BREAKING: One Soldier Killed As Nigerian Army Raids Abia Community, Recovers 'Weapons, Cash From Militants Camp'

The signal said the raid, which involved six platoons of 49 soldiers each, was led by the unit commander and supported by one armoured personnel carrier (APC), a gun truck, and six Hilux vehicles.

Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation UDO KA have reportedly dismantled a camp allegedly belonging to the Eastern Security Network (ESN), in a coordinated raid in Ugwunagbo Local Government Area of Abia State.

According to a special situation report (SITREP) from 144 Battalion (Rear) obtained by SaharaReporters on Friday, the operation was launched in the early hours of May 23, following actionable intelligence on the presence of an ESN stronghold in the Ebubengwa/Abayi Nchokoro community. 

The signal said the raid, which involved six platoons of 49 soldiers each, was led by the unit commander and supported by one armoured personnel carrier (APC), a gun truck, and six Hilux vehicles.

According to the report, the operation led to the complete dislodgement and destruction of the camp, with troops recovering a significant cache of arms and logistics.

 Items recovered include: 1 × Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG); 1 × General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG); 4 × AK-47 rifles; 1 × G3 rifle; 3 × Pump action guns; 800 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and 648 rounds of 7.62mm NATO rounds. 

Additional items recovered include two generators, laptops, CCTV cameras, mobile phones, a Wi-Fi router, external hard drives, food supplies, ritual vests, and a substantial sum of ₦11.75million and $27,000 in cash.

It was learnt that during the operation, troops also discovered and destroyed a large shrine used for spiritual activities, along with several vehicles and motorcycles including: 1 × Honda Pilot SUV; 2 × Toyota Highlander SUVs; 1 × Toyota Hiace bus; 1 × Mini bus; 1 × Tricycle and 2 × Motorcycles. 

The report has it further that in the ensuing firefight, the militants were forced into disarray under heavy firepower, leaving behind blood trails. 

While the exact number of casualties remains unconfirmed, the Nigerian Army said it recorded one fatality and two wounded in action (WIA) — one officer and one soldier. 

The deceased was said to have been taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Umuahia, and the injured personnel are receiving treatment at a medical facility in Aba.

Troops expended 630 rounds of 7.62mm special and 235 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition during the engagement. 

The military said the area has since been secured, with continuous patrols ensuring sustained dominance.

The report reads in part; "OP UDO KA SPECIAL SITREP. *RAID OPERATION ON IPOB/ESN CAMP. AT ABOUT 220400A  MAY 23, FOL A RELIABLE AND ACTIONABLE INTEL ON THE EXISTENCE OF NOTORIOUS IPOB/ESN CAMP IN EBUBENGWA/ABAYI NCHOKORO COMMUNITY IN UGWUNAGBO LGA, OWN TPS COMPRISING OF 6 × 49 SLDRS LED BY OWN SUNRAY USING 1 × APC EQ-SERIES, 1 × GUN TRUCK AND 6 × HILUX VEHS LAUNCHED A WELL-COORDINATED RAID OP THAT RESULTED IN THE COMPLETE DISLODGEMENT AND DESTR OF THE IPOB CAMP AND DISSEMATING OF THEIR FIRE POWER  WHICH LED TO REC OF  1 × RPG, 1 × GPMG, 4 × AK-47 RIFLES, 1× G3 RIFLE, 3 × PUMP ACTION GUNS." 

"AFTER A GUN DUEL, THE TERRS WDR  IN DISARRAY DUE TO HY FIRE POWER WITH BLOOD TRAILS AND UNCFM NO OF CAS. HOWEVER, OWN TPS RECORDED 1 × KIA AND 2 × WIA WHICH INCLUDE 1 X OFFR  AND 1 X SLDR. THE CORPSE HAS BEEN DEPOSITED AT FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTER UMUAHIA AND THE NOK HAS BEEN CONTACTED WHILE THE WIA SLDRS WERE EVAC TO MED FACILITY IN ABA AND ARE RESPONDING TO TREATMENT.

"TPS ALSO DISCOVERED A BIG SHRINE USED FOR SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES AND  5 X VEHS IN THE CAMP WHICH INCLUDE 1 X  HONDA PILOT SUV, 2 X TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SUVS, 1 X TOYOTA HIACE BUS, 1 X MINI BUS, 1 X TRICYCLE  AND 2 X MOTORCYCLES. THE ENTIRE CAMP INCLUDING THE SHRINE AND ALL VEHS WERE DESTR AND SET ABLAZE. DURING THE EXCHANGE OF FIRE, TPS EXPENDED QTY 630 X 7.62MM SPECIAL AND QTY 235 X 12.7MM RDS."