The Nigerian Army has revealed that its troops, belonging to the 82 Division, discovered burnt corpses of police operatives in a camp allegedly linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed militant wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN).
The discovery was made during a raid on the camp and other nearby locations associated with IPOB and ESN.
Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Unuakhalu, the spokesperson for the 82 Division, disclosed in a statement on Thursday that the camps were situated along Umulolo-Umukele-Amousu and Agbobu in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State in Nigeria’s South-east.
The army spokesperson reported that the troops encountered improvised explosive devices (IED) planted by the suspected terrorists but successfully destroyed the camps.
The operation involved collaboration with personnel from the Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Air Force, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.
“During the search, signs of terrorists’ activities, occultic and acts of cannibalism by the group were discovered.
The troops also destroyed the IED-making factory of the terrorists,” said Mr Unuakhalu.
The army disclosed that rank badges of two kidnapped policemen along the Enugu-Port Harcourt road were recovered during the operation.
Two suspects were arrested, and burnt corpses of policemen were found for proper burial.
Among the items recovered from the camps were Biafra currencies, counterfeit US Dollar bills, Biafra Liberation Army T-shirts, other Biafra insignia, military kit bags, cables used for IED detonation, and axes.
The discovery sheds light on the activities of the IPOB and ESN groups, with the Nigerian Army emphasizing its commitment to addressing security challenges in the region.
The situation further underscores the complexities of the security landscape in the South-east and the ongoing efforts to counter separatist groups in the area.
