Troops of the Nigerian Army have uncovered and neutralized a major firearms and drone manufacturing factory operated by Armed fighters of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and its militia arm, the Eastern Security Network, ESN at Onicha Olona in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State.

This was contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations Major General Onyema Nwachukwu on Tuesday March, 14.

He revealed that the fighters were using the factory to carry out criminal activities to terrorize neighbouring communities and innocent citizens.

“The intelligence- led operation revealed that the dissidents were using the factory to carry out criminal activities to terrorize neighbouring communities and innocent citizens.

“Upon swooping on the illegal factory, the troops were met with stiff resistance but overpowered the Armed fighters in the fierce firefight that followed.

“The gallant troops neutralized two of the fighters and recovered a substantial cache of arms and ammunition”, the statement read. The troops recovered items such as a wide range of IPOB/ESN firearms, ammunition, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and a drone manufacturing factory. Other items recovered are a variety of weapons, drones under construction, with prototypes, Improvised Explosive Device materials, a fully equipped workshop, and several power generating sets.

The Troops also apprehended four male and two female fighters during the operation. Maj Nwachukwu further assured the public of the troops’ unalloyed commitment to dismantling terrorists and insurgent networks in the country.