A combined team of the Joint Task Force (JTF) South East, Operation UDO KA (OPUK), has destroyed a suspected stronghold of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), in Anambra State.
The operation, carried out on Thursday, February 26, 2026, targeted a forest enclave known as “Mother Valley” in Nkwere, described by the military as a command and control centre for criminal elements in the region.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Friday, the Nigerian Army said troops advanced through difficult terrain for over three hours before penetrating the defensive positions of the insurgents.
The statement said the troops, comprising personnel of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, came under heavy gunfire and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks during the operation.
“The combined troops demonstrated exceptional courage, discipline, and professionalism to penetrate and dominate the valley despite fierce resistance,” the statement read.
According to the military, one suspected IPOB member was neutralised during the exchange of fire, while others fled with varying degrees of gunshot wounds.
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Troops subsequently conducted a search of the area and recovered weapons and other items, including two pump-action guns, one locally fabricated gun, a tear gas gun, seven gas cylinders allegedly used for IED production, and flags linked to extremist propaganda.
The army added that troops destroyed structures described as life-support facilities within the valley, including solar panels and a Mikano generator allegedly used at the group’s command centre.
In a related operation in the same area, an ambush team arrested two suspected IPOB members. One of the suspects was apprehended while allegedly attempting to plant an IED, while the other was accused of monitoring troop movements.
Security operatives also recovered a KIA saloon car and a black Toyota Sequoia jeep from a car park within the enclave.
The military said the suspects are in custody for profiling and investigation, adding that clearance operations are ongoing to ensure full control of the area.
It reaffirmed its commitment to restoring peace in the South-East, warning that criminal elements would not be allowed safe haven in the region.
