Troops of the Nigerian Army, have neutralised two gunmen, recovered their weapons and arrested four others in Imo State.
A statement issued and signed by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu disclosed that the gunmen, suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), were neutralised by the troops in a fierce gun battle on Orlu – Orsu Road on Monday.
Nwachukwu said the troops while on routine patrol, made contact with the suspected elements of IPOB around the general area of Aluminium Company and All Saints Church, along the Orlu-Orsu road.
He said on sighting the patrol team, the criminal elements opened fire and launched a grenade attack on the troops.
Nwachukwu said the vigilant troops responded with superior firepower, neutralising two of the criminal elements, compelling others to flee in disarray.
He said the troops arrested four of the fleeing gunmen and recovered one AK 47 rifle, two magazines, one Police grenade launcher, two Baofeng communication radios and five mobile phones.
One IPOB beret, two motorcycles, four SIM cards, five wallets containing different Identity cards, charms and the sum of N16, 460 were also recovered during the raid.
“Preliminary investigation on the suspects’ mobile phones reveals gory pictures and videos depicting scenes of cold-blooded murders, corpses displayed in shrines and other heinous atrocities committed by the criminals,” he said.
