Troops arrest IPOB ‘founder’, commander, kill 140 terrorists

[FILE] Some of the recovered ammunitions from IPOB/ESN fighters

Ekpa’s group threatens to shut FG courts in S’East Oct 29

Troops on the frontline have nabbed the founding member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), popularly known as Pius Iguh, in the Orsu area of Imo State.

Meanwhile, the Biafra Republic Government In-Exile, a group founded by Finland-based pro-Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa, has told the Federal Government to return all detained Biafrans to the South East, threatening to lock down all federal courts in the region from October 29, 2024, if his demand is not met.

The troops also killed about 140 terrorists, who dared the military in all theatres across the country within one week.  Spokesman of the Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Edward Buba, during a briefing at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), noted that the ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations of the armed forces dealt significant blows to terrorist capabilities, adding that 134 more were arrested red-handed during the one-week operation.

According to Buba, troops have prevented the terrorists from accomplishing their strategic objectives.   He added that as the war wages, troops continue to find innovative solutions to the challenges faced in the conduct of operations and retain operational flexibility.

“Troops continue to deepen operational successes across the various theatres of operation. For instance, in the South East theatre, troops at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Orsu conducted a sting operation that culminated in the arrest of an IPOB leader. Identified as Pius Iguh, he is a founding father of ESN in the Orsu general area of Imo.

“Similarly, troops at FOB Amaraku conducted a raid that resulted in the arrest of another IPOB commander identified as Emmanuel Onwugu. He was arrested in Mbano Local Council of Abia State.”

The Guardian gathered that during the week under review, the troops neutralised 140 and arrested 135 persons.

“Troops also arrested 18 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 76 kidnapped hostages. In the South South, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated N1.75 billion. They also recovered 241 assorted weapons and 3,254 assorted ammunitions,” the DHQ stated.

The military assured that it would defeat the terrorists on the battlefield and in their hiding places for the country to flourish again, calling on citizens to see themselves as the outstretched arm of the military and never to give terrorism any oxygen to thrive in the country.

EKPA, in a statement, yesterday, pointed out that the ultimatum, which is expected to last till October 27, 2024, was a decision of a meeting of October 24.  He noted that the Nigerian judicial system contributed to the insecurity in the region by installing anti-people governors, citing Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo.

The Biafra agitator asked the judges of non-Biafran descent to leave the South East. He stated, “The Biafra government in an emergency cabinet meeting, today (Thursday), voted and approved a resolution to demand Nigerian government to return every Biafran being detained outside Biafraland within 72 hours. The 72 hours will expire on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

“Failing to adhere to this demand, the Biafra government also voted for the resolution to evict every non-Biafra judge and lock down the following institutions: Federal Government Courts of Appeal in Owerri, Awka, Enugu as well as all Federal High Courts and National Industrial Court in Biafraland.”

The Biafra government, according to him, resolved that these institutions brought anarchy, death, insecurity and instability instead of justice.  Ekpa added, “It was these courts, which brought Uzodimma, that destroyed the lives of our women and children. These institutions will therefore be in lockdown indefinitely from October 29, 2024.

“Every judge that is not from Biafraland is hereby requested to go back to their region, as their security will no longer be guaranteed”, he stated.

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