FG To Launch Major Operations Against IPOB

Nigerian security agencies are set to launch a “major offensive” against members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the South East.

CityNews Nigeria understands that President Muhammadu Buhari has given the security agencies the marching order to curtail the attacks on government facilities and the killing of police officers in the region and parts of South-South.

It was also learned that three Deputy Commissioners of Police and Squadrons of Anti-riot Police have been deployed to the region ahead of the operation and police operations have also been rejigged in the South East.

According to multiple security sources, the President has given the security agencies the order to stop the attacks on offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), police stations, prisons, and military checkpoints.

Speaking with TheCable, a security operative said: “The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has recruited over 50,000 foot soldiers, as it were, into its Eastern Security Network (ESN) and stockpiled arms, most of which were stolen from police armoury during the End SARS protests.

“They have been bringing in arms through Cameroon in partnership with the Ambazonia Governing Council, the separatist movement in Southern Cameroon. IPOB sends at least 2,000 men and women to Cameroon for training on weapon handling every week.”

Another top security official said IPOB has stockpiled “bottle bombs”, locally made explosive devices, Pump Action rifles “as well as swords”.

“In a recorded tape, two people described as “top commanders of ESN” were heard discussing issues such as surveillance of INEC offices, militants wounded in previous attacks, operations of IPOB camps, doctors treating wounded colleagues, installation of CCTV camera at their training camps in Udi, Emene and Nsukka and how to attack police cells.

“This is warfare,” the security operative said.