We Met Resistance From Unknown Gunmen In Lilu – Nigerian Army

Nigerian Army has said despite resistance put up by unknown gunmen at Lilu Forest in Ihiala Local Government area of Anambra state on Wednesday, Its troops were able to clear what It described as criminal havens.

Nigerian Army in a news release made available during the preceding week by the Army Director of Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu indicated that the Unknown Gunmen suspected to be members of the Biafra secessionist armed group laid ambush against the army troops.

“During the clearance operations, troops overpowered and routed the dissidents, who staged an ambush against the gallant troops. The troops then proceeded to clear Lilu Forest, where they were met with resistance from the outlawed group. The criminals were again over ran by the troops who effectively cleared Lilu Forest and the adjoining areas earlier occupied by the dissidents.
During the clearance operations, the troops uncovered decomposing remains of kidnapped and murdered victims dumped in a deep well by members of the irredentist groups.

“While conducting the operations, the unrelenting troops encountered and cleared four ambush sites along (the) roads: Orsumoghu-Mbosi – Ihiala-Uli, dislodging the irredentists from their criminal havens.

“The gallant troops neutralized one of the criminals, arrested three suspects and recovered one Pump Action Shotgun, two live Cartridges, two mobile phones, One black coloured Toyota Hilux vehicle, a polythene bag containing substances suspected to be Cannabis and the sum of 1, 920 (naira)”, the Army statement reads.

The Army said the operation was conducted by Troops of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army with the commanding order to clear the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and its armed wing, Eastern Security Network, ESN, who operate along the blocks of Azia, Orsumoghu, Lilu Forest, Mbosi and Uli in Ihiala and Orsu Local Government Areas of Anambra and Imo States respectively.