Security agents have eliminated dozens of criminals linked to the Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and their counterparts in the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
Defense headquarters said Thursday in Abuja that criminals had been eliminated in the southeast and parts of the south-south.
Acting Director, Defense Media Operation, Brig.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, told reporters that the criminals were eliminated during various operations between June 3 and June 16.
Onyeuko said the military and other security agencies contained several IPOB / ESN activities such as attacks on police stations, killings of security officers and civilians as well as destruction of property in areas .
He said officers raided thug hideouts in Ukpong in the Obot Akara local government area in Akwa-Ibom on June 4 and dislodged the criminals.
He added that on the same day, troops engaged and repulsed IPOB / ESN thugs who attacked the town of Okposi in the area of the Ohaozara local government in Ebonyi and the criminal investigation department of the command of Abia police.
“Similarly, on June 5, troops repelled the attack by IPOB thugs on commuters along the Igbo-Etiti – Nsukka road in Enugu state.
“In another development the same day, troops tracked down and apprehended thugs who vandalized and stole railway ties at Nkwubor Road in Emene in the Enugu East local government area of the state,” he said. he declared.
The spokesperson also said the federal government has embarked on an extraordinary non-kinetic approach to the seemingly intractable security challenges in the Southeast.
He said the Minister of Defense, Major-General retired. Bashir Magashi on June 11 led a delegation to Enugu for a security meeting with actors in the geopolitical area.
According to him, the minister was accompanied by the Minister of the Interior, Rauf Aregbeshola and the Chief of Staff of the Armies, General Lucky Irabor, as well as representatives of the heads of service.
“During the summit, a whole host of security issues were discussed with governors of the Southeastern states, religious leaders, traditional leaders, opinion leaders and other stakeholders present.
“The discussions and decisions taken at the end of the security summit were far-reaching and would go a long way towards bringing peace to the region,” he said.
Onyeuko said that in the southwest area, Operation AWATSE troops supported their operations against criminal elements to restore law and order in the troubled areas.
He said troops repelled the attack by armed shepherds on the Igangan community in the Ibarapa Northern Local Government Area of Oyo State on June 5.
According to him, the troops mobilized on the spot and engaged the shepherds, during which some of them were neutralized while others fled with gunshot wounds.
He said troops raided the hideouts of some criminals in the Ona-Ara local government area of the state and arrested suspects on June 7.
Onyeuko said the suspects have been turned over to the appropriate prosecutorial bodies for further action. (NAN)
