5 IPOB armed wing operatives reportedly killed – witnesses say they overpowered police
Nigerian Army has disclosed that they killed five members of Indigenous People of Biafra armed wing operatives in a combat.
The incident occurred when the armed operatives of IPOB stormed Isheke Police Station in Ebonyi State. The operatives succeeded in burning down the Police Station and some impounded cars.
The Army intervened almost after the operatives have finished the purpose of their mission. According to eyewitness.
Eyewitnesses said that the Police men on guard were overpowered by the IPOB armed operatives who launched a surprise attack.
“The Police ran away with their guns. The gunmen took control of the Police Station and did everything they came to do before the arrival of the Army” a witness said on condition of anonymity.
Nigerian Army has been accused of claiming success and manufacturing numbers of casualties each time there is a confrontation with the IPOB operatives.
Recently, they issued a press statement after storming the so-called secretariat of Biafra National Guard, that they killed six members of the group.
But investigation revealed the group didn’t lose a single member, and is back to their secretariat.
In Ebonyi, the Army claimed they repelled the attack.
“Troops of the Nigerian Army in a swift and decisive response have repelled an attack on Isheke Police Station which came under attack by suspected IPOB terrorists resulting in the torching of the facility and several vehicles”
Sticking to their usual phrase of “overpowering” the army claimed they engaged the operatives and forced them to flee.
“Troops, on arrival at the scene, launched a counter-attack on the terrorists overpowering and compelling them to flee in disarray”
The operatives of IPOB indulge in a gorilla kind of warfare, and fleeing after attack is a strategy they have adopted over the years of their secession attempt.
Fleeing is not always as a result of the superior power of the Nigerian Army, but a strategy strictly embraced by the group.
The troops listed what were recovered from the operatives while fleeing.
“The troops recovered one PKT Machine Gun with a link belt containing 94 rounds of ammunition, 2 AK-47 rifles with 3 magazines, containing 11 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, one Submachine Gun with a magazine, and a Sienna SUV with registration number Ebonyi CHR-364JC”
Going further, the Army notes it would continue to fight against secession in the region with other security agencies.
“The Nigerian Army will continue to operate in synergy with sister services and other security agencies to combat the terrorists’ activities by IPOB and its armed affiliate, the ESN. We urge all law-abiding citizens to be vigilant and report any suspicious movement or activity to the security agencies
The quest to stem the tide of insecurity in the Southeast region continues to be a massive problem for the Federal Government.
The leader of IPOB who has been incarcerated for more than two years erected ESN, the armed wing of his IPOB to combat herdsmen of northern region.
The launch of his ESN was done in the heat of herdsmen/farmers fight which has led to deaths across the country.
