Army Reveals Outcome of Saturday Shootout with Gunmen in Ukpor Anambra

By Izunna Okafor, Awka

The Nigerian Army has revealed the outcome of the last Saturday's heavy shootout between a joint security team and members of Unknown Gunmen in Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government Area or Anambra State.

According to a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the troops, consisting of troops of 302 Regiment of the Nigerian Army, operatives of the Nigerian Navy, Department of State Services and Nigeria Police Force, recorded many successes in the clearance operation conducted in the early hours of Saturday 25 June 2022, as they cleared IPOB fire positions and used Improvised Explosive Devices to dislodge the criminals from their hideouts.

He said the joint security team also recovered two AK-47 rifles, three magazines with five rounds of 7.62 mm (Special) ammunition, two pump action rifles, one locally-fabricated gun, and three power generators, among others, during the operation.

The statement partly reads: “A joint security team consisting of troops of 302 Regiment of the Nigerian Army, operatives of the Nigerian Navy, Department of State Services and Nigeria Police Force have dislodged camps belonging to Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) at Idara Nnebo, Ihe Mbosi villages and Ukpor in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State. 

“In a clearance operation conducted in the early hours of Saturday 25 June 2022, troops cleared IPOB fire positions and used Improvised Explosive Devices to dislodge the criminals from their hideouts.

“During the operations, troops  recovered two AK-47  
rifles, three magazines with five rounds of 7.62 mm (Special) ammunition, two pump action rifles and one locally fabricated gun. Other items include three power generators, among others.

“Similarly, troops of 103 Battalion conducted a raid operation on IPOB/ ESN camp at Nkwere Inyi Forest in Oji River Local Government of Enugu State. The encounter forced the criminals to flee in disarray, while troops recovered one Lexus and a Toyota Highlander SUV suspected to have been snatched by the criminals. Other items recovered include two motorcycles, one double barrel gun and seven live cartridges.

“Members of the public are enjoined to continue to support troops with credible information on the activities of the criminal elements in the region.”