Army Launches Operation Against IPOB/ESN, Dismantles Camps in Anambra

Troops of the newly formed 15 Brigade of the Nigerian Army have dismantled three suspected camps linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), recovering weapons, explosives, and other supplies during an operation in Anambra State.

The operation was carried out early on Saturday, August 15, 2026, following intelligence reports of suspected IPOB/ESN activity in the Osuakwa area, near the boundary between the Ihiala and Ogbaru Local Government Areas.

The troops, operating under Joint Task Force South East as part of Operation UDO KA, were joined by personnel from the Department of State Services (DSS) and members of the Agunechemba Vigilante Group. According to an update from the Nigerian Army on X, the joint force came under hostile gunfire during the raid but responded decisively, overpowering the assailants after a fierce exchange.

Items recovered from the camps included an FN rifle with 10 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, a pump-action shotgun with five cartridges, and 15 sticks of dynamite, alongside four motorcycles, a gas cylinder, three hybrid batteries, two car batteries, and three handheld radio chargers.

Three suspected IPOB/ESN members were killed in the operation, and all three camps were successfully dismantled. Follow-up investigations in the area led to the arrest of a suspected IPOB/ESN member identified as Chijioke, along with a man and a woman believed to be his accomplices. Six children were also found with them at the scene.

The Commander of 15 Brigade commended the troops, DSS personnel, and vigilante group members for their bravery, discipline, and effective inter-agency coordination, describing the operation as another significant setback for criminal and terrorist elements seeking to destabilize the South East.

The Nigerian Army assured residents that the brigade would sustain its intelligence-led operations in collaboration with other security agencies and community stakeholders, reaffirming its commitment to curbing criminal activity and protecting law-abiding citizens across Anambra State and the wider South-East region.