Troops clear 4 IPOB/ESN camps, recover fresh, old corpses in Imo

Troops of the Joint Task Force, South-East, code-named Operation UDO KA II, has cleared four notorious camps of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliates, Eastern Security Network (ESN), in Imo State.

The troops, in the course of the clearance, neutralised two IPOB/ESN members and four of the criminals were arrested.

This is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Enugu by Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, for the Joint Task Force Operation UDO KA II.

Unuakhalu said that the camps cleared are located in three communities – Ihube, Aku and Umulolo – in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State.

He said that the clearance and recovery was carried out on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023.

The army spokesman said that during the clearance operation, troops encountered many Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs) deployed enroute to the camps.

According to him, however, due to superior firepower, the irredentist group members fled into neighbouring forests with gunshot wounds.

“It was discovered that the camps were being used to perpetuate atrocities such as cannibalism, occultic practices and ritual killings to instill fears into law-abiding citizens.

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“These were evident from many fresh and old corpses discovered while clearing the entire camps.

“Also, the houses of the two spiritual leaders and herbalists that took to their heels were destroyed.

“Furthermore, the shrine of the wanted terrorist, Amobi Chinoso Okafor, alias Temple, where human sacrifices are being made was destroyed,” he said.

Unuakhalu said that the items recovered from the camps included different denomination of the Biafra currencies, one new power bike, four motorcycles and solar panels.

Others items recovered are POP cements and a petroleum tanker suspected to have been hijacked from hard working Igbo owners (indigenes) trying to make a living.

“Operation UDO KA II will continue combating crime and criminality in accordance with the extant rules and regulations guiding its operations.

“All law-abiding and good citizens of the South-East are enjoined to act against these devilish terrorists by providing timely, credible and reliable information which will lead to ending the menace of insecurity occasioned by activities of the terrorist group in the region.

“Do not be a victim of this sacrilegious. These criminals are desecrating Igboland,” he said.

Troops clear 4 IPOB/ESN camps, recover fresh, old corpses in Imo

BREAKING: Alison-Madueke arrives London court over bribery charges

Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, late Monday morning, October 2, 2023 appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London to answer.

She had on August 22 been charged to court by the United Kingdom (UK) government over an alleged £100,000 bribe. The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) said they suspected Diezani had accepted bribes in return for awarding multi-million-pound oil and gas contracts.

British police say they suspect she had accepted bribes in return for awarding multi-million-pounds oil and gas contracts, Reuters reported.

“We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts.

“These charges are a milestone in what has been a thorough and complex international investigation,” said Andy Kelly, Head of the National Crime Agency’s International Corruption Unit.

The NCA said Alison-Madueke was accused of benefitting from at least 100,000 pounds in cash, chauffeur driven cars, flights on private jets, luxury holidays for her family, and the use of multiple London properties.

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Charges against her also detail financial rewards including furniture, renovation work and staff for the properties, payment of private school fees, and gifts from high-end designer shops such as Cartier jewellery and Louis Vuitton goods, the NCA said.

British police say she is currently living in St John’s Wood, an upmarket area of West London.

Alison-Madueke, 63, was a key figure in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, serving as petroleum resources minister from 2010 to 2015.

She also served as president of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

The once powerful minister is equally being probed by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In October, 2022, Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the final forfeiture of two Abuja properties and two luxury cars belonging to Alison-Madueke, to the Federal Government.

The two properties are located at Plot 1854 Mohammed Mahashir Street and No. 6, Aso Drive in Abuja’s highbrow Asokoro and Maitama Districts, respectively, and are valued at $2,674,418 and N380m.

The luxury cars are a black BMW saloon with chassis number B8CV54V66629 and registration number RBC155 DH and a black Jaguar saloon with chassis number SAJAA.20 GRDMv43376, valued at N36m.

The judge gave the order forfeiting the assets to the Federal Government while ruling on the application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in suit No. 1122/2021 and Suit No. 1123/2021, asking for the final forfeiture of the assets.

BREAKING: Alison-Madueke arrives London court over bribery charges

(NewsExpress)

JUST IN: Gunmen storm Plateau community, kill 9 in late-night attack

Nine persons were on Monday confirmed dead after gunmen attacked Adu village in Kwal District of Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State.

The spokesman for the Miango Youths Development Association, Nuhu Bitrus, confirmed the death of the villagers on Monday.

“Yes, nine persons were killed yesterday (Sunday) in an attack in Adu village. It happened around 9pm,” Bitrus stated.

He said the attack had led the community to cancel its activities earlier planned for the celebration of Nigeria’s 63rd anniversary and had instead, turned the event slated for Monday (today) into a day of mourning and prayer for the safety of the people.

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The youth leader added, “We are not happy that we are today mourning the death of nine of our people in Adu village who were killed last night (Sunday ) in an attack.

“It is unfortunate that while others are celebrating Nigeria’s 63rd independence, we are gathering in Kwal to bury our people. As a community, we had planned to celebrate Nigeria’s 63rd independence celebration today (Monday) with a lot of activities but we are not doing that anymore. We have turned the event into a prayer day for the safety of our communities.”

The youth leader called on the government at all levels to stop further attacks in Bassa communities.

As of the time of filing this report, the spokesman for the Plateau state Police Command, Alabo Alfred, could not be reached when contacted for reaction on the incident.

JUST IN: Gunmen storm Plateau community, kill 9 in late-night attack