The Nigerian Army said on Tuesday that troops in a joint operations conducted with other security agencies have dislodged a notorious stronghold of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN) at Lilu Forest in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.

According to the Nigerian Army, the operation, which was conducted in the early hours of Monday, January 17, 2022, led to the neutralization ofsome gunmen in a fire fight that ensued.

“After dislodging the dissidents from their fortress, the dogged troops recovered 10 Pump Action Shotguns, two locally fabricated guns, One Revolver pistol,rounds of 7.62 mm special, live cartridges, machettes and IPOB flags. Other items recovered are mobile phones, laptopsamongst other dangerous weapons,” a statement signed by the Director Army Public Relations Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu said.

Photos accompanying the statement showed blood everywhere and bullet-riddled bodies which News Express refrains from publishing in view of the newspaper’s policy of not publishing nude and dead bodies.

The statement further said that operation was jointly conducted bytroops of 82 Division, Nigerian Navy, 211 Quick Response Group of the Nigerian Air Force,Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police.

It added that “it was a well -coordinated dawn attack on the fortress, where plans were been perfected to violently enforce the illegitimate sit-at-home declaration by the irredentist groups”.

Lilu is a border town between Imo and Anambra states and, according to the Nigerian Army, “was hitherto known to be used as an operational base of the dissidents”.