The Nigerian military says troops in the South East theatre, at FOB Orsu has arrested a terrorist leader, identified as Pius Iguh, who it says is a founding father of Eastern Security Network (ESN) group in Orsu general area of Imo State after a sting operation.
It also said troops at FOB Amaruku also arrested another IPOB terrorist commander identified as Emmanuel Onwugu after a raid in Mbano LGA of Abia State.
The Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba made this disclosure at a media briefing on Thursday in Abuja.
He further said that troops and security forces in a combined sting operation also arrested a notorious cult leader named Ifeanyi Rock with 10 of his combatants in Arochukwu in Abia State.
He said the ongoing counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations of the armed forces has dealt significant blows to terrorist capabilities as they have denied these terrorists from accomplishing their strategic objectives.
He added that as the war wages, troops will continue to find innovative solutions to the challenges faced in the conduct of operations and retain operational flexibility.
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Meanwhile, during the week under review, the DMO Director said troops neutralized 140 and arrested 135 persons.
Maj. Gen Buba said troops also arrested 18 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 76 kidnapped hostages, denying oil theft of over One Billion naira.
Troops according to the DMO Director, recovered 241 assorted weapons and 3,254 assorted ammunition.
In the Niger Delta area troops were said to have discovered and destroyed 33 crude oil cooking ovens, 19 dugout pits, 41 boats, 70 drums, 22 storage tanks and 47 illegal refining sites, 13 speedboats, one tricycle, 4 motorcycles, 3 vehicles, 1,122,710 litres of stolen crude oil and 557,210 litres of illegally refined AGO amongst others.
The military assured Nigerians that it will defeat the terrorist on the battlefield and in their hiding places in order that the country can flourish again while calling on citizens to see themselves as the outstretched arm of the military and never to give terrorism any oxygen to thrive in our nation.