Security
Nigerian Security Forces Counter IPOB Sit-At-Home Order In Forest
The 31st of July 2023 witnessed a significant milestone as the combined troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police, and other security agencies carried out a daring raid on hideouts and training camps belonging to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN), in the expansive Orsomoghu Forest, extending across Anambra and Imo States.
The daring operation was in response to the illegal and disruptive two-week sit-at-home order declared by IPOB and ESN in Onitsha, Nnewi, Iheme Obosi (Anambra State), and New Market (Enugu State).
The enforcement of this order posed a serious threat to the safety and stability of the region.
During the meticulously planned raid, the troops encountered armed fighters from the irredentist group.
The hostile confrontation led to the detonation of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), colloquially known as Ogbunigwe, and the use of locally fabricated mortar tubes.
Despite facing such dangers, the valiant troops managed to overpower the dissidents in the ensuing firefight, compelling them to abandon their positions and flee into nearby forests, leaving behind evidence of their criminal activities.
The determination of the troops led to the successful clearing of IPOB camps in Ekeututu, Orsomoghu, Lilu, and Mother Valley.
Additionally, during the cordon and search of the hideouts, five fleeing members of the group were apprehended, and several items of importance were recovered, including one IPOB flag, one CCTV camera, two detonated IED bombs, and a fabricated mortar tube.
Regrettably, five soldiers and two Nigeria Police operatives sustained injuries from the detonation of the IEDs by the criminals.
Nevertheless, the Nigerian Army urged all law-abiding citizens of the South East to disregard the unlawful sit-at-home order and continue with their daily activities and businesses.
It is the collective responsibility of the people to support ongoing operations with actionable information to ensure the safety and stability of the region.
The Nigerian Army, in collaboration with sister services and security agencies, reaffirms its unyielding commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of the good and enterprising people of South East Nigeria.
All efforts will be carried out within the boundaries of the law and rules of engagement to maintain peace and prosperity in the region.
No fewer than 26 people lost their lives, with three others sustaining injuries, following an improvised explosive device (IED) detonation along the Rann–Kala Balge–Gamboru Ngala highway in Borno.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, several civilian vehicles travelling from Rann in Kala Balge LGA ran into a series of hidden explosives.
Makama said the incident occurred on Monday after the convoy veered into a zone where the IEDs had been strategically placed.
The publication said the IEDs were triggered by the movement of vehicles, adding that emergency personnel were swiftly deployed to evacuate victims and administer first aid.
“Security forces have since cordoned off the affected route and commenced clearance operations to ensure safety and prevent a repeat of the incident,” the report said.
“Those injured have been transferred to nearby hospitals where they are currently receiving medical attention.”
Last week, Mohammed Badaru, minister of defence, said President Bola Tinubu is committed to addressing the growing security challenges in Borno state.
The minister spoke about the administration’s commitment to meeting all operational needs of the troops to enhance security in the region.
The Oodua Integrity Group, a Nigerian civil society organisation, has called on Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to investigate and arrest an alleged gun runner, land grabber,popularly called then insert Lucky Blessings Abuah aka bullets of Achala Ibusa village operating in Asaba and Ibuzor, Delta State, accusing him of orchestrating criminal activities with the aid of rogue police officers.
Tosin Olaoluwa, the group’s South-South coordinator, made the appeal following intelligence gathered from concerned residents.
The suspect, identified as Achala Ibusa but popularly known as “Bullet,” is accused of running a network involving illegal arms trafficking, land grabbing, and cult-related activities.
Olaoluwa claimed Bullet operates with the protection of police officers from Rivers State, in violation of regulations prohibiting officers from working outside their command without approval.
According to the group, four AK-47 rifles were recently discovered hidden in a house in Ibuzor.
Two mobile police officers guarding the property reportedly distanced themselves from the find, raising suspicions of their involvement with Bullet, who is allegedly a leader of the Viking cult.
The Oodua Integrity Group further alleged that an assistant commissioner of police is complicit in Bullet’s activities.
The group highlighted that up to 10 mobile police officers are attached to Bullet, despite IGP Egbetokun’s recent directive to withdraw such personnel from individuals not legally entitled to their services.
“We urge the IGP to take immediate action to arrest the culprit in the interest of the general public,” Olaoluwa said, describing Bullet as a miscreant exploiting government security agents to perpetrate crimes.
In a separate incident, the group claimed that security agents from an agency in Abuja, acting on intelligence, were prevented from arresting Bullet by his police escorts.
The officers, reportedly from Rivers State, allegedly used tear gas and fired shots to obstruct the operation.
The Oodua Integrity Group warned that Bullet’s activities, including stockpiling AK-47s and other weapons in Asaba and Ibuzor, pose a significant threat to public safety.
They called for a thorough investigation into the allegations and the immediate apprehension of those involved.
The Nigeria Police Force has yet to respond to the allegations. Efforts to reach a spokesperson for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
The Kaduna state Police Command has debunked reports of a bomb explosion in the Abakpa area of the metropolis, which reportedly killed two children.
The spokesman of the Command, Mansir Hassan, said in a statement that preliminary investigations conducted by the Anti-Bomb Squad indicate that a locally made firearm (Dane gun) was discharged, resulting in the unfortunate loss of life of the young boy.
According to the police, the incident, which occurred at about 8:30 am on Tuesday at Josawa Road in the Abakpa area, claimed the life of a 12-year-old boy, identified as Abubakar Muhammed of Josawa Road, while seven other individuals sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The statement stated that a combined team of policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer of Kawo Division and the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Chairman of Kaduna North Local Government, all visited the scene following a distress call, and a thorough on-site assessment was carried out.
Police disclosed that further investigations and assessments are ongoing to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Command equally assured the public that further developments will be promptly and transparently communicated.