The military operation in the Niger Delta region, Operation Crocodile Smile has been extended to Imo State, as government troops raided two prominent kidnappers’ camps belonging to rival cultists.

Army spokesperson, Sani Usman, a Colonel, in a statement on Saturday said the operations, carried out in Umoubi and Umudike forests, both in Ohaji Egbema local government area of the state, was conducted on Thursday by troops from 34 Artillery Brigade.

“During the raid, one Chigozie aka “Chi boy”, a notorious kingpin of one of the cult groups  lost his life, while another member was later discovered dead in the forest and quite a number of the gang members were believed to have escaped with gunshot wounds.”

“The troops recovered quite a number of military uniforms and mobile telephones and other household items before destroying the camps to prevent the cultists regrouping in the area,” the statement read.

Usman said the troops have continued combing the forests with a view to fishing out other members of the gangs.