Troops d!smantle IPOB/ESN stronghold in Anambra
Troops dismantle IPOB/ESN stronghold in Anambra
A combined troop of the Joint Task Force (JTF) South East, Operation UDO KA (OPUK), have stormed and destroyed a notorious stronghold of the Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, in Anambra State.
A Toyota SUV and other cars recovered by the Nigerian Army. | Credit: Nigerian Army.
The operation was carried out in a major offensive aimed at restoring peace to the South East.
The decisive operation, conducted on Thursday, February 26, 2026, targeted the “Mother Valley” in Nkwere, a forested enclave that has long served as a command and control center for criminal elements in the region.
According to a statement issued by the Nigerian Army via X app on Friday, troops advanced relentlessly through difficult terrain for over three hours to penetrate the defensive positions of the insurgents.
“The combined troops demonstrated exceptional courage, discipline, and professionalism to penetrate and dominate the valley despite fierce resistance,” the statement read.
During the intense engagement, the criminals reportedly employed locally made Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and heavy gunfire in a desperate bid to halt the military advance.
However, the JTF troops, comprised of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, overwhelmed the hostile elements.
The army confirmed that one IPOB member was neutralised during the shootout, while several others fled the scene with varying degrees of gunshot wounds.
The troops conducted a thorough search of the valley, recovering a significant cache of weapons, ammunition, and logistics items. Recovered items included two pump-action guns, one locally fabricated gun, a tear gas gun, seven gas cylinders used for IED production, and various flags linked to extremist propaganda.
In a move to cripple the operational capabilities of the insurgents, the military destroyed all life-support structures within the valley, including solar panels and a Mikano generator used at the terrorists’ command center.
“Troops also destroyed all life-support structures at the terrorists’ Supreme Headquarters in the valley, dealing a critical blow to their operational sustainability,” the statement noted.
In a related operation within the same area, an ambush team arrested two suspected IPOB members. One suspect was apprehended while attempting to plant an IED, while the other was identified as a spy monitoring troop movements. Troops also recovered a KIA saloon car and a black Toyota Sequoia jeep from a car park located within the valley.
The military has reaffirmed its commitment to clearing the region of all criminal elements.
“This decisive operation sends a clear and unmistakable warning to all criminal elements: there will be no hiding place, no sanctuary, and no escape,” the statement emphasised.
The suspects are currently in custody for profiling and investigation, while aggressive clearance operations continue to ensure total domination of the area.
