Two suspects arrested as JTF raids ‘ESN camps’ in south-east

The Joint Security Task Force (JTF) in the south-east says its operatives have arrested two suspected members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and seized many weapons during raids of some of the group’s camps across the regions. 

In a statement on Sunday, Jonah Unuakhalu, the JTF spokesperson, said one of the raids happened on December 5 at Uhuala-Aku in Okigwe LGA, Imo.

Unuakhalu said the troops destroyed 26 makeshift accommodations in the camp during the raid.

“The combined force acting on credible intelligence on arrival at the terrorists’ camp came in contact with the irredentists, who were forced to abandon their camp in disarray, escaping into the adjoining forest due to the troops’ superior firepower,” the statement reads.

Unuakhalu added that the ammunition recovered in the raid included a G3 rifle, two pump-action rifles, three dane guns, one locally fabricated pistol, one MG belt, two AK-47 rifle magazines, 12 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, and five rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.

“Other items are a sack containing a human skull, one Toyota Hilux vehicle, six radio chargers, 20 car keys, and one Baofeng radio,” he said.

Unuakhalu said the two suspects were arrested in the Okposi community of Ebonyi state, noting that two locally fabricated pistols, nine live cartridges, and one motorcycle were also recovered.

The JTF spokesperson said sector 1 troops and the Department of State Service (DSS) raided the alleged ESN camp at Agu Orba Ekwegbe community in Nsukka LGA of Enugu in another operation.

 “During the raid operations, troops recovered the following locally fabricated items: two general-purpose machine guns (GPMG),one single-barrell gun, 12 rifles under construction,two single-revolverr pistols, 10 pistols under construction, and two pistol magazines,” he said.

“Others included 335 rounds of 7.62mm by 51mm live ammunition, 12 rounds of pump-action rifle live cartridges, and 11 empty cartridges.

“The combined team also recovered 21 military desert boots, eight pairs of military raincoats, three IPOB/ESN flags, a first aid box, six cutlasses, two knives, and bags of rice and garri. The camp was subsequently destroyed.”