Troops arrest 27 IPOB members, recover arms in Imo

Troops of 144 Battalion have arrested 27 members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) comprising 4 females and 23 males led by their spiritual leader, one Pa MICHEAL MADUMERE (56 years) who hails from IDEATO South LGA of IMO State.

One of the proscribed IPOB members named Mr OLIVER ONYEBUNACHI was arrested with one AK 47 Rifle with Registration Number 562511003 and 2 Magazines containing 8 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition.

The suspect was shot on his right leg as he tried to shoot at troops. Normalcy has since been restored in that area as troops continued to maintain surveillance in the general area.

While commending the troops, the Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Tukur Buratai called on Nigerians to avail the Nigerian Army formations and units nationwide with timely information that will assist them in ridding the communities of criminal elements and their nefarious and violent activities.

In a statement, the Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator, Col Aminu Iliyasu urged all law-abiding citizens to go about their businesses without fear of molestation.

In another development, troops of 82 Division Garrison, while carrying out their Operation MESA activities, averted a chaotic situation that could have led to the breakdown of law and order, where some trailer drivers at ONU-EBONYI ABAKALIKI barricaded ABAKALIKI – OGOJA Road to stage a protest over alleged maltreatment of one of their members by a Policeman.

The troops were able to restore normalcy in the general area with the employment of professional crisis management techniques.