Following the reported clash between a combined team of security agencies, known as Joint Task Force,JTF which comprises the Nigerian Army, Department Of State Security, DSS, Nigerian Police and the Indigenous People Of Biafra ,IPOB at Awo-idemili in Orsu LGA of Imo State, South East, Nigeria on January 27, 2024 some key members of the self actualisation group were neutralized.
The reported clash was said to have occurred based on a tip off given to the JTF as IPOB members were holding their strategic meeting at Awo Idemmili in Orsu LGA on the said date. Nigeria Newspoint recalls that Awo Idemmili in Orsu has been mapped out by JTF as a flash point of insecurity in the South East.
Infact, it is said to be their converging point,most of the activities of IPOB in the region is reported to have been hatched and executed from this axis.
Our correspondent reported that the information of the said IPOB strategic meeting leaked to the JTF on the fateful day.
The security operatives were said to have stormed the Awo Idemmili venue of the meeting where
heavy exchange of fire ensued and casualties were recorded on either side,but with many IPOB members were neutralized. Confirming the ugly event to newsmen in the Police headquarters, Owerri later the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SPO Henry Okoye revealed that the Federal Government is committed to stopping IPOB activities which it claimed is constituting disunity of the country.
The Orsu LGA he further stated is the hot bed of the activities of the group and so government is determined to flush out all the members in order to ensure peace.
The PPRO also revealed that the Federal Government,FG has declared five key leaders of the group in the area wanted based on information about the neck deep involvement in leading IPOB. According to the Press release given to the Journalists the IPOB leaders who have been on the wanted list of security operatives include; Chukwuma Emmanuel, Uwalaka Obinna Paschal, Okafor Feechukwu , Ogbuka Stanley, Osele Onyeka and others.
He emphasized that the five men have been declared wanted due to their intense membership and activities.
Security agencies informed that Uwalaka Obinna Paschal in particular is leading the group with the four others who have been accused of playing pivotal roles of recruiting and training of new IPOB members in the area.
“They have been marked and identified as a threat to the needed peace in the South East and unity of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Uwalaka Obinna Paschal is reported to be a native of Egbelu Amaimo community in Ikeduru Local Government Area.
The release noted that while a few members of the group were neutralized,Paschal and the five others were among those who escaped with injuries after the combined team of Security forces had stormed the venue of their meeting at community primary school Awo-idemili in orsu LGA, on January 27.
The Press statement informed that the suspects have been at large since the Awo-Idemili debacle with the security agencies.
It also revealed that the Federal Government via the JTF has requested any person(s) with useful information about the suspects should report to any Security Agency nearest to them for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the wanted IPOB key members.
NIGERIA NEWSPOINT