Nigeria, March 4 -- Troops of the Nigerian army have killed a suspected member of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the militant wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Onyema Nwachukwu, the army spokesperson in a statement on Sunday, said the suspect was killed during a clearance operation by the troops at Ihiteukwa, a community in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State, South-east Nigeria.

Mr Nwachukwu, a major general, said the troops also cleared an IPOB/ESN hideout in the area during the operation which was conducted on Saturday.

The army spokesperson said the troops overpowered the hoodlums after an "intense firefight" between them.

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