Army troops under Operation UDO KA have dismantled suspected IPOB/ESN strongholds in Ogbaru, Anambra State, neutralising one operative and recovering two pump-action guns, motorcycles and materials suspected to be used for making IEDs.
The Nigerian Army has dealt a significant blow to suspected Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) elements in Anambra State, following a dawn operation that dismantled their suspected strongholds in Ogbaru Local Government Area.
The operation, conducted on Saturday, August 22, 2026, involved troops of the Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA, working alongside the Military Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Maritime Component and local vigilantes. Multiple reports citing the military’s operational update corroborate the raid and the recovery of weapons and IED-making materials.
The troops targeted suspected strongholds at Obene and Abator villages within the Ochuche and Umunankwo communities following intelligence on the activities of suspected IPOB/ESN operatives.
According to the operational report, the suspected operatives opened fire when they sighted the advancing troops before abandoning their positions and fleeing into the surrounding terrain.
The troops responded and pursued the fleeing elements. Blood stains were reportedly observed along their withdrawal route, indicating that some of the suspects may have sustained gunshot injuries during the encounter.
During the pursuit, one suspected operative was neutralised, while other members of the group reportedly escaped with the remains of another operative believed to have been killed during the encounter.
A subsequent search of the abandoned strongholds led to the recovery of two pump-action guns, two motorcycles and materials suspected to be used in the manufacture of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
The recovery of the IED-related materials represents a significant operational gain for the security forces, as it potentially disrupts the group’s capacity to manufacture explosive devices for attacks and other criminal operations.
The Army said the coordinated assault successfully dislodged the suspected operatives from the locations, denying them the opportunity to continue using the areas as operational bases.
The operation, however, recorded a fatal setback when a soldier stepped on an IED while troops were returning to their starting position.
The soldier was immediately evacuated for medical attention but reportedly died from severe blood loss while being transported to hospital. PRNigeria identified the fallen soldier as Private Danladi Zakariya and reported that his remains were subsequently deposited at the mortuary of St. Charles Borromeo Hospital, Onitsha.
Despite the loss, the troops maintained their positions and intensified operations in the surrounding areas to track fleeing suspects and prevent them from regrouping.
The latest operation forms part of a wider military campaign against suspected IPOB/ESN strongholds across the South-East. The Nigerian Army has reported other operations in Anambra in August, including an August 15 operation in which troops dismantled three suspected camps and recovered firearms, explosives and other logistics.
The Army said troops remain committed to sustaining pressure on armed and criminal networks in the region, denying them safe havens and disrupting their ability to carry out attacks.
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