Army dismantles IPOB/ESN camps in Anambra

In a recent operation conducted in Anambra State, the Nigerian Army's newly formed 15 Brigade dismantled three suspected camps of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the East String Network (ESN). This came after intelligence received on the activities of these groups in the vicinity of Osuakwa, straddling the boundary between Ihiala and Ogbaru Local Government Areas.

The Joint Task Force South East, under Operation UDO KA, led the operation alongside personnel from the Department of State Services and the Agunechemba Vigilante Group. The troops engaged the criminals in a fierce firefight, despite taking fire themselves, and ultimately overpowered the assailants. During the raid, the Army recovered weapons, explosives, and various logistics, including an FN rifle with 10 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, a pump-action shotgun with five cartridges, and 15 sticks of dynamite.

Other items seized included four motorcycles, several batteries, and radio chargers. The operation also led to the arrest of a suspected IPOB/ESN member, Chijioke, and two accomplices with six children in tow. The Commander of 15 Brigade praised the troops, DSS personnel, and vigilante members for their bravery, discipline, and effective inter-agency cooperation, describing the operation as a significant blow to criminal and terrorist elements attempting to destabilize peace and security in the South East.

The Army pledged to continue intelligence-led operations in collaboration with other security agencies and local stakeholders, vowing to deny criminal elements freedom of action and ensure the safety of residents in Anambra State and the broader South-East region.