Troops of Sector 2 under Operation UDO KA have arrested a suspected commander of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), popularly known as “Calamity,” during a coordinated raid in Ebonyi State.
According to a statement by the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations 82 Division Nigerian Army Lieut. Col. Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, the operation, conducted under the ongoing Operation EASTERN SANITY, took place in the early hours of April 21, 2026, at Nwofe in Izzi Local Government Area. Four other suspects were also apprehended at the hideout.
According to military sources, the arrest followed actionable intelligence linking the suspect and his associates to the killing of a police officer and the injury of another during an attack on February 26, 2026, at Okuku-Igbo in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State. During the incident, the assailants reportedly made away with two AK-47 rifles.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect, believed to be a key figure within the IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), relocated to Ebonyi State after intensified security operations in Delta State. He and his group were said to have established a new base to continue their activities.
Acting on credible intelligence, troops stormed the location and arrested five individuals, including the alleged commander. Items recovered at the scene included a black handbag containing five mobile phones and multiple keys, as well as a black Kcsanya motorcycle.
The suspects are currently in military custody and undergoing further investigation aimed at dismantling the broader network and recovering additional weapons believed to be in circulation.
Military authorities said the operation reflects the ongoing commitment of the Nigerian Armed Forces, in collaboration with other security agencies, to neutralise criminal threats and restore stability in the South-East and adjoining regions.
They also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to support ongoing security operations.
