Details of how Biafra National Guard headed by General Innocent Orji decimated Nigerian troops of Operation UDO UKA during their clearance operation in Arochukwu community in Abia State have emerged.
NewsBand and Dailytab24 Newspapers have made some disturbing revelations following a joint investigation launched by the two media organizations to unmask the actual identity of the group behind the brutal killing of five soldiers in Aba, the economic hub of Abia State.
Recall that gunmen on 30th of May, 2024 launched vicious attack on military personnel at Obikabia area of the State.
The criminal elements numbering over 20 said to be enforcing the May 30th sit-at-home announced by the Indigenous People Of Biafra to commemorate Biafra heroes and heroines day, killed the military operatives and set their operational van ablaze.
While responding to the killings, the Military High Command, through the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba in a statement said the army would be fierce in its response to the dastard act and would bring overwhelming military pressure on IPOB to ensure their total defeat.
“The attack sadly took the lives of five personnel of the armed forces.
“The armed forces mourns these troops as each and every soldier lost in battle is a terrible loss.
“Meanwhile, investigation are ongoing concerning the attack.
“Overall, it must be reiterated that the lifeline of the terrorist is the people and this situation is no exemption.
“Winning the war without the support of the people is close to impossible and the IPOB capitalised on this to perpetrate attacks on the troops.
“The situation leave more to be desired.
“Accordingly, it is absolutely imperative that the military retaliate against this dastardly act against troops.
“The military would be fierce in its response. We would bring overwhelming military pressure on the group to ensure their total defeat,” Buba said in the statement.
Despite pointing accusing fingers at IPOB as the group behind the attack, the separatist movement in a terse statement by it’s spokesman, Mr Emma Powerful denied any involvement and accused the Nigerian army of masterminding the attack to blackmail the group and also undermine the government of Dr. Alex Otti.
IPOB blamed the army for failing to carry out a holistic investigation but choose to resort to media blackmail.
Following the threat by the military to avenge the death of its five personnel, a clearance operation by the troops was carried out in Igboro forest, in Arochukwu local government area of the State.
The army said during the intelligence led operation, troops encountered Improvised Explosive Devices along it’s axis of advance and one soldier sustained minor injury from the fragment.
The terrorists’ feeble firefight, the military command stated were subdued with superior firepower that led to the neutralization of 6 members of the criminal terrorists group while others escaped into adjoining bushes with varying degrees of gunshot wounds as blood stains were seen along their escape routes.
Items recovered were three locally fabricated Rocket Propelled Grenade launchers, two locally fabricated Artillery gun with tripod and its bombs. Other items recovered include dane guns, Biafran flags as well as Toyota Tundra and Hilux vehicles that were burnt. Also all of their camps with different inscriptions were destroyed.
But during the course of investigation by NewsBand and Dailytab24 Newspapers, it was clearly established that the camp which was raided by the troops in Igboro forest does not belong to the Indigenous People Of Biafra.
The camp is the National Secretariat of Biafra National Guard headed by General Innocent Orji.
Orji who spoke exclusively with NewsBand and Dailytab24 Newspapers, refuted the army’s claim that six members of the Indigenous People Of Biafra were killed during the clearance operation in Igboro forest.
Orji stated categorically that the troops of Operation UDO UKA were decimated during the brutal encounter and three Nigerian soldiers were killed while others sustained injuries.
He said, “Don’t mind them, we only wanted them to take a look at the national secretariat and after they finish making videos of the secretariat to confirm the existence of the government of the State of Biafra, we immediately bombarded them with our artillery weapon.
“That forced them to withdraw and by then, three of their soldiers were killed while others sustained injury but none of my soldiers sustained injury or were killed”.
Speaking further, General Innocent Orji also exonerated his group from the attack in Aba that led to the death of five soldiers.
He said, “And besides whatever that happened at Aba has nothing to do with us because we’re the government of the State of Biafra. We don’t involve in criminality. As the National Army of Biafra, our duty is to protect our citizens and not to cause harm or insecurity to them”.
Furthermore, General innocent Orji said his soldiers were back to their secretariat and functioning.
“We are back to our secretariat, they left after the exchanges with their dead. We have videos of our presence back to the secretariat” the General said.
IPOB And Biafra National Guard Not Involved In Aba Attack:
However, inside sources from the Central Command (DOS) of the Indigenous People Of Biafra authoritatively told NewsBand and Dailytab24 Newspapers that the criminal elements who masterminded the wicked killings in Aba are directly connected to the Finland based fugitive, Simon Ekpa and they operate under the guise of Biafra Liberation Army.
