Troops nab suspected IPOB nurse, top fighter in South-East raid

 

Troops of Operation UDO KA have arrested a suspected nurse accused of treating wounded fighters of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the South-East region.

The troops also arrested Simon Chukwumeoru Akpoke a.k.a. Iron, a suspected IPOB/ESN terrorist, at his hideout in the Ijebu-Igbo area of Ijebu North Local Government Area, Ogun State.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this in a statement yesterday while providing an update on military operations across the country.

Onoja said the suspected IPOB nurse, Miss Ezinna Anthonia, was arrested on March 31 at Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government Area, after credible intelligence on the movement of a high-profile IPOB/ESN member.

He added that the suspect had confessed to being the primary nurse responsible for treating wounded IPOB/ESN fighters after encounters with security forces.

According to the Defence spokesperson, the suspect had also confirmed her membership of the proscribed group.

 

“Significantly, the so-called prime minister of the proscribed group, Ngozi Orabueze, subsequently posted the suspect’s photograph on her X (formerly Twitter) handle, inadvertently corroborating her affiliation with the group.

 

“These arrests represent a significant blow to the medical and logistical support networks sustaining IPOB/ESN operations in the South East,” Onoja said.

The Defence spokesperson said Akpoke was on the wanted list of 82 Division Area of Responsibility, and was arrested on March 29 after credible intelligence about his hideout.

Providing an update on the operation in the South-South, Onoja said troops of Operation DELTA SAFE on March 29 intercepted a HOWO truck conveying three illegal miners with a consignment of suspected illegally mined black sand, at Atabrikang in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

He added that on March 30, troops uncovered an illegal crude oil refining site and recovered 10,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil during a patrol at Okarki Forest in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.

“Equipment recovered at the site included three small drums, three drum receivers, three coolants, a large reservoir, two galvanised pipes, five hoses, three sacks of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) amounting to approximately 125 litres, and an illegal waste pit.

“All recovered items and products were handled appropriately,” Onoja said.