Fierce Battle In Asaba As Army, Police, DSS Gun Down IPOB/ESN Fighters

A joint security team comprising operatives of the 63 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police, and the Department of State Services (DSS) have neutralized two Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) fighters and arrested five others.

Naija News reports that this occurred after a fierce encounter at Fuji junction in Asaba, Delta State.

The shootout was confirmed in a statement on Tuesday by Nigerian Army spokesperson, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu.

The army stated that the encounter on Monday followed distress calls that the community was under attack by the terrorists.

The statement said: “The combined troops swiftly responded, and the terrorists succumbed to the overwhelming firepower of the troops, after two of their members fell in the firefight that ensued, while the survivors fled to their hideout around Okpanam River.

“The gallant troops, in pursuit of the fleeing criminal elements, successfully trailed them to their enclave in a house around Okpanam river, where they were nabbed.

“The troops also recovered one AK 47 Rifle, one Pump Action Semi-Automatic Rifle, 15 Live Cartridges, one AK 47 Rifle Magazine, and a Baofeng Radio Receiver.”

Nwachukwu noted that the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, commended the combined troops for their effort.

He urged them to sustain the synergy as they restore peace and tranquility in the region.

The statement added: “We implore members of the public to continue to cooperate with the security agencies by providing actionable information to support their operations to tackle security challenges.”