2 security agents, one suspected IPOB member killed in Imo clash

Troops of 34 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Obinze, in Owerri, on Friday killed an alleged member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and recovered seven weapons in Imo State.

The Brigade’s Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Capt. Joseph Akubo, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Owerri.

He said the troops who were returning from routine patrols responded to a distress call of an IPOB/ESN attack on the Osina community, Ideato North local government area of the state, and engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun duel.

The spokesman added that two security agents were killed in the encounter.

Akubo said: “The corpses of the slain agents were recovered and the troops proceeded in pursuit of the fleeing terrorists.

READ ALSO: ‘Simon Ekpa must be tried for murder’, IPOB insists

“Contact was again made with the criminal IPOB/ESN elements at Nkwachi Community and in the firefight that ensued, one of the dissidents was neutralized while others who could not withstand the troop’s firepower ran into the nearby forest.

“One 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 the troops’ superior firepower and scampered into the thickly forested area with severe gunshot injuries.

“An additional four AK 47 rifles, one Fabrique Nationale rifle, and five magazines were recovered. This brought to five the number of AK 47 files recovered by the troops.

“Also recovered were FN rifles and a tear gas launcher.”

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