LAGOS, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian troops have killed two gunmen of the outlawed separatist group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the southern state of Imo, the army said on Wednesday.
The troops encountered on Tuesday a group of IPOB gunmen while carrying out an operation in Orsu local government area of Imo, said Onyema Nwachukwu, a spokesman for the Nigerian army, in a statement.
Two of the gunmen were killed as they took position to launch one of their rocket launchers, said Nwachukwu, adding no casualties were reported from the troops during the fire exchange.
"Troops will continue to ensure there is no safe haven for all criminal elements operating around the area," he said.
The IPOB is a separatist group in Nigeria seeking to make a group of states in south Nigeria break away and form the independent nation of Biafra. It was deemed a terrorist organization by the Nigerian government in 2017. ■
