It was a black Friday in Osina in Ideator North Local Government Area of Imo State.
That day, two soldiers of the Nigerian Army met a tragic end following an attack by some men of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the armed wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
This attack has even been confirmed by the Nigerian Army.
They confirmed the attack via a statement issued on Saturday.
On that ill fated day, troops from the 34 Artillery Brigade were said to be returning from a routine patrol.
That was when a distress call about an IPOB/ESN attack on Osina community came in.
Also, the Army stated that its troops engaged the “terrorists” with overwhelming firepower, forcing the attackers to retreat in disarray.
However, the Army did not disclose the number of casualties on the side of the IPOB/ESN operatives, it confirmed the loss of two soldiers.
Additionally, the Army reported that weapons were carted away during the confrontation.
The Army described IPOB and its armed wing, ESN, as “dissidents” and reiterated its commitment to maintaining peace and security in the South-East region.
ESN Vs Nigerian Army: The Clash
The statement said: “Unfortunately, two security agents had been killed in action and one other missing in action and their weapons, an AK 47 Rifle and a Tear Gas Launcher were carted away by the terrorists.”
Furthermore, it was noted that the corpses of the slain agents had been recovered, and the troops had proceeded in pursuit of the fleeing “terrorists”.
The statement continued: “Contact was again made with the criminal IPOB/ESN elements at Nkwachi Community and in the firefight that ensued, one of the dissidents was neutralised while others who could not withstand the troop’s fire power ran into the nearby forest. One (1) AK-47 rifle with a fully loaded magazine was recovered.
“The unrelenting troops continued to pursue the remnant of the criminals deep into Umalouma forest where a heavy firefight further broke out. The dissidents finally abandoned their weapons due to troops’ superior fire power and scampered into the thickly forested area with severe gunshot injuries.”
Surrender Or Die
An additional five (4) Ak – 47 rifles, one (1) Fabrique Nationale Rifle and five (2) Magazines were recovered. A total of six (5) AK 47 Rifles and a Tear Gas Launcher were recovered.”
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“Further exploitation is ongoing as troops will continue to trail the injured terrorists and smoke them out of their hideouts and places of treatment.
We urge all IPOB/ESN irredentists and other criminal elements hiding in the bushes to surrender to the nearest troops’ location or meet their waterloo as troops of the Brigade will continue to ensure that Imolites celebrate the Yuletide Season in peace without fear or intimidation.”
“The army in the statement appealed to the people of Imo State to continue to support the military by giving them timely intelligence on the hideouts and movements of the “terrorists to enable us rid the state of all criminality.”
