SaharaReporters learnt that the troops of the 6 Division Garrison, Port Harcourt and 29 Battalion, in conjunction with police operatives, carried out the operation.
Soldiers of the Nigerian Army in the ongoing search for the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Eastern Security Network operatives have shot dead seven suspected members in a gun battle in a hideout between the Eleme and Oyigbo Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
SaharaReporters learnt that the troops of the 6 Division Garrison, Port Harcourt and 29 Battalion, in conjunction with police operatives, carried out the operation.
According to the army in a release, the clash was as a result of clearance and raid at suspected "IPOB/ESN enclaves at Agbomchia Forest along Pipeline Road Ogali/Komkom Boundary between Eleme and Oyigbo LGA's of Rivers State."
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen Mohammed Yerima, said, "Troops of 6 Division Garrison, Port Harcourt and 29 Battalion in conjunction with operatives of Nigerian Police, DSS, and NSCDC on Thursday, 27 May 2021, conducted a Clearance/Raid Operation at suspected IPOB/ESN enclaves at Agbomchia Forest along Pipeline Road Ogali/Komkom Boundary between Eleme and Oyigbo LGA's of Rivers State.
"In the firefight that ensued during the Clearance/Raid Operation, 7 IPOB/ESN members were neutralised while five suspects arrested.
"Various items belonging to the criminals, including arms and ammunition, were also recovered by the security forces. The camp was promptly destroyed while suspects and corpses were handed over to the Police for further actions.
"There was no casualty on own troops and other security operatives as they have returned to base in high morale.
"The Nigerian Army urges members of the public to always avail the troops with accurate and timely information that will help in tracking down and neutralise the so-called Unknown Gunmen (UGM) who are terrorising the region."