Army spokesman, Brigadier Onyema Nwachukwu, said the camps which were raided on Wednesday were located in Ihiala and Orsulu Local Government Area of Anambra and Imo states respectively.

He said the dissidents had actually staged an ambush against the soldiers who were able to overpower them.

“The troops then continued to clear Lilu Forest, where they were met with resistance from the outlawed group. The criminals were once again overrun by the soldiers who successfully cleared Lilu Forest and the adjoining locations previously occupied by the dissidents.

“During the clearance operations, the soldiers uncovered disintegrating remains of kidnapped and murdered victims discarded in a deep well by members of the irredentist groups.

“While conducting the operations, the unrelenting soldiers came across and cleared 4 ambush websites along roadways Orsumoghu-Mbosi– Ihiala-Uli, dislodging the irredentists from their criminal havens.

“The gallant soldiers reduced the effects of one of the wrongdoers, arrested three suspects and recovered one Pump Action Shotgun, two live Cartridges, 2 cellphones, one black coloured Toyota Hilux Vehicle, a polythene bag including compounds thought to be Cannabis and the amount of N1, 920,” Nwachukwu stated.

He stated in an operation conducted on Thursday, troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army in partnership with the Nigerian Police performed a raid on an IPOB/ESN syndicate that interfered with the simply concluded city government council elections at some ballot stations in Nkanu West of Enugu State.

“During the intelligence-driven operation performed around Centenary Estate, Obeagu Uno, soldiers uncovered 7 AK-47 rifles, 2 Pump Action rifles, 10 rifle magazines, eight live cartridges, 74 live rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammunition, one hand grenade, a tipper truck consisting of three corpses to name a few products. The products have been turned over to Enugu State Police Command for more action.

“The Nigerian Army reassures locals of South-East Nigeria of our dedication to bring back lasting peace in the area,” he said.

ToriNG