Troops of the newly established 15 Brigade Nigerian Army, operating under the Joint Task Force South East’s Operation UDO KA, have recorded a major operational success against suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN), dismantling three terrorist camps and recovering arms, explosives and other logistics during a coordinated operation in Anambra State.
The intelligence-led operation was conducted in the early hours of Saturday, August 15, 2026, following credible information on the activities of suspected IPOB/ESN elements operating from camps located at Osuakwa, along the boundary between Ihiala and Ogbaru Local Government Areas.
Acting swiftly on the intelligence, troops of 15 Brigade, in conjunction with personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Agunechemba Vigilante Group, launched a carefully planned dawn raid on the identified locations.
During the operation, the joint force came under hostile fire from the terrorists but responded decisively, overwhelming the criminals after a fierce firefight. Three suspected IPOB/ESN members were neutralised, while all three camps were successfully overrun and destroyed to prevent their future use as operational bases.
Troops recovered a cache of weapons, explosives and logistics, including one FN rifle with 10 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, one pump-action shotgun with five cartridges, 15 sticks of dynamite, four motorcycles, one gas cylinder, three hybrid batteries, two car batteries, and three handheld radio chargers, as well as other items believed to have supported the group’s activities.
Further exploitation of the area led to the arrest of one suspected IPOB/ESN member identified as Mr Chijioke, alongside one male and one female suspected accomplice, who were found in the company of six children.
The Commander, 15 Brigade Nigerian Army, commended the troops, DSS personnel and members of the Agunechemba Vigilante Group for their courage, discipline and outstanding inter-agency cooperation, describing the operation as another major setback for criminal and terrorist elements seeking to undermine peace and security in the South East.
The Nigerian Army reassured the public that the newly established 15 Brigade will continue to sustain aggressive intelligence-led operations in collaboration with sister security agencies and local stakeholders to locate, disrupt and dismantle terrorist and criminal networks. The Brigade said it remains committed to denying criminal elements freedom of action and ensuring the safety of residents across Anambra State and the wider South East region.
