Nigerian Army declares victory over IPOB

The Nigerian Army has declared victory over the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) which was recently proscribed and declared a terrorist organization.

The Army revealed this on Friday, September 22, in a statement by the deputy director public relations 82 Division, Colonel Sagir Musa.

The statement read in part: “Despite the initial opposition to Exercise EGWU EKE II by the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra IPOB members and their sympathizers and unpatriotic elements, the general area of the South East especially Aba in Abia State is now fully stabilized.

“The usual violent activities of the outlawed IPOB “National Guards” (manning checkpoints and extorting money from traders and motorists) have now been checkmated.

“Similarly, the outlawed IPOB group presence is no longer visible and people go about their normal businesses without fear, let or hindrance.

“The 82 Division Nigerian Army wishes to reassure the public that it is poised to maintaining the peace and security in the entire South-Eastern Region.

“Members of the public are please requested to cooperate with security agencies by remaining law-abiding and passing credible information to the nearest security checkpoint or call 193 and the various Sector Commanders’ telephone numbers that were earlier made public.”

The Army also said that it would embark on more operations like Operation Python Dance to tackle rising cases of insecurity and crime across the country.

The Army said: “Following the commencement of Exercise EGWU EKE II on Friday 15th September 2017 in 82 Division Area of Responsibility, simultaneous activities have started in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and the Cross River States without hitch. The essence of the exercise is to enhance troops’ preparedness and proficiency in dealing with emerging security challenges peculiar to the South-Eastern Region, such as kidnappings, armed robbery, communal crisis, farmers- herdsmen clashes, cultism, violent agitations and insurgency, amongst others.

“One interesting aspect of the exercise is that it is multi-agency in nature and execution, thus enhancing synergy of efforts among the Services, Security and response agencies. Relevant para-military organizations such as the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp, Department of State Security Service, Federal Road Safety Commission, National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency and Nigerian Immigration Service are all synergizing and collaborating in the exercise to ensure attainment of these objectives,” the statement said.