Troops of the Joint Task Force South-East under Operation UDO KA on 26 February 2026 launched a coordinated ground assault on a suspected stronghold of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), in Mother Valley, Nkwere, Anambra State.
The operation, conducted by personnel of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), reportedly involved a three-hour advance through difficult terrain before forces penetrated and secured the enclave.
According to military sources, the armed group resisted the offensive with heavy gunfire and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). One suspected IPOB member was neutralised during the exchange, while others reportedly fled the area with gunshot wounds.
Troops recovered a cache of items, including two pump-action guns, a locally fabricated firearm, a tear gas launcher, seven gas cylinders, and materials described as propaganda items. Security forces also dismantled structures within the camp, including solar panels and a Mikano generator, which officials said supported the group’s operations.
In a related development, an ambush team arrested two suspects in connection with the group’s activities. One was apprehended while allegedly attempting to plant an IED, while the other was said to have been monitoring troop movements. Security operatives also recovered a KIA saloon car and a Toyota Sequoia jeep from the location.
The suspects are currently in custody undergoing profiling and investigation, while clearance operations continue in the area.
Operation UDO KA authorities reiterated their commitment to sustaining security operations across the South-East, assuring residents of continued efforts to protect lives and property and dismantle criminal networks operating in the region.
