The Nigerian Army says” troops of the newly established 15 Brigade Nigerian Army, operating under the Joint Task Force South East, 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.
In a post on X, the Army stated that
“the intelligence-led operation was conducted in the early hours of Saturday, 15 August 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 of the state. 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 also 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, three handheld radio chargers, as well as other items believed to have supported the group’s criminal 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 accomplices, who were found in the company of six children.
“The Commander, 15 Brigade Nigerian Army, has commended the troops, personnel of the DSS 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 reassures the public that the newly established 15 Brigade will continue to sustain aggressive intelligence-led operations in collaboration with sister security agencies and critical local stakeholders to locate, disrupt and dismantle terrorist and criminal networks. The Brigade remains resolute in its commitment to denying all criminal elements freedom of action and ensuring the safety and security of law-abiding residents across Anambra State and the wider South East region.
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In a related development, troops of Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA (JTF NW OPFY) sustained the momentum of ongoing offensive operations by taking the fight to the terrorists, recording significant successes through the neutralization of terrorists, recovery of weapons and the interception of 180 explosive materials being conveyed to terrorist elements in Zamfara State.
A statement issued by Lt.Col .Aliyu Danja, Media Information Officer,Joint Task Force ( North West) Operation FANSAN YAMMA said,
On 14 August 2026, troops of Sector 2 conducting an offensive clearance operation in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area made contact with terrorists around Garin Kaso and engaged them in a fierce firefight. Two terrorists were confirmed neutralized during the initial encounter, while troops recovered 2 rifles, 2 magazines, 9 rounds of ammunition and 2 motorcycles.
As the operation progressed, another group of terrorists attempted to ambush the troops from concealed positions. The troops responded decisively and successfully fought through the ambush, inflicting further casualties on the terrorists and forcing the surviving elements to flee.
Although the exact number of terrorist casualties from the subsequent encounter is yet to be confirmed, reports from the communities within the general area indicated that several terrorists with apparent gunshot wounds, as well as bodies of their neutralized colleagues, were evacuated by the fleeing elements following the encounter. This further indicates the significant pressure being brought to bear on terrorist groups as troops continue to take the fight to their enclaves.
In another significant development on the same day, troops of Sector 2 conducting routine snap checks on vehicles intercepted a suspected arms and explosives courier, identified as 57-year-old Sani Umar. A search of the suspect’s vehicle led to the recovery of 180 units of 20mm Super Power explosives allegedly being transported from Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State for delivery to suspected terrorist elements operating in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State. The suspect, vehicle and recovered explosives are currently in custody for further investigation.
The operations demonstrate the sustained offensive posture of Operation FANSAN YAMMA in simultaneously taking the fight to terrorist enclaves and disrupting the logistics networks that provide them with weapons, explosives and other resources required to perpetrate violence.
The Theatre Command remains resolute in sustaining the momentum of ongoing operations and will continue to deny terrorists and other criminal elements freedom of action across the North West.
