Soldiers engage IPOB members in gun duel
The Nigerian Army has said soldiers engaged some members of the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, and its armed wing, Eastern Security Network in a gun duel on Monday.
The incident happened at Ihioma Community in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State.
The army tweeted that the troops of the 34 artillery brigade “encountered members of the irredentist group who fired sporadically at Banana Junction to enforce the illegal sit at home order”.
“The IPOB/ESN criminals on sighting the troops withdrew in a blue Toyota Highlander towards Ihioma Community for reinforcement.
“In the fire fight that ensued during the operation, one of the criminals was taken out, while others fled in disarray. Troops are combing the general area in a follow-up operations to track down the fleeing dissidents.”
The Nigerian Army added that the group had resorted to propaganda by circulating a doctored video on the social media alleging troops’ complicity.
“This propaganda should be disregarded in its entirety,” the statement read in part.