What is the Nigerian army doing about IPOB in the South-East?
The Nigerian Army is conducting Operation UDO KA, a joint counter-terrorism campaign targeting the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). In Q1 2026 alone, troops arrested 91 suspects, dismantled bomb factories, destroyed militant camps, and recovered weapons across Imo, Anambra, and Abia states.
The Nigerian Army has declared major operational victories against the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), as Nigerian Army IPOB operations intensify across Nigeria’s South-East.
Between January and March 2026, the Armed Forces of Nigeria arrested 1,359 suspects nationwide, rescued 813 kidnapped victims, and neutralized scores of militant fighters.
However, the military’s conduct is sparking an urgent national debate over security priorities, civilian rights, and the limits of force.
Army claims decisive gains against IPOB/ESN networks
Troops of Operation UDO KA recorded a major breakthrough against IPOB and ESN, dismantling a critical medical and logistical support network sustaining militant activities in the South-East. The operation targeted supply chains, not just fighters.
In the South-East specifically, Operation UDO KA arrested 91 suspects and recovered arms, ammunition, and IEDs during the first quarter of 2026. Furthermore, bomb-making factories were neutralized in Anambra and Imo states.
The Nigerian Army dismantled a bomb fabrication site during clearance operations at “Camp Gbadoanya” in Orsumoghu, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra, with Nigerian Air Force personnel providing close air support.
Major General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, stated during a quarterly press briefing, “The AFN remains committed to operating within international humanitarian law and will intensify operations to dismantle remaining terrorist and criminal elements.”
Meanwhile, Brigadier General A.M. Dikko, Brigade Commander of the 14th Brigade, Ohafia, commended troops for their “professionalism, resilience, and determination,” while noting the security situation “remains relatively calm but still unpredictable.”
Key operational highlights from Q1 2026:
Two locally fabricated IEDs—5 kg gas cylinders packed with nails, water-gel explosives, and detonators—were uncovered in Umuchinma Forest, Abia State, on February 8, 2026.
One IPOB member was killed, and two were arrested during a battle in Mother Valley, Nkwere, Imo State, including a suspect caught placing an IED and another acting as a spy.
A ritual shrine linked to IPOB/ESN was dismantled in Olokoro, Abia State, and three suspects were arrested on March 11, 2026, as part of Operation Eastern Sanity.
A key suspect identified as “IRON”—Simon Chukwumeoru Akpoke—was apprehended on March 29, 2026, at a hideout in the Ijebu-Igbo area.
Nationwide, 197 insurgents surrendered, and nearly 16,000 rounds of ammunition were recovered across all theaters in Q1 2026.
IPOB fires back: Propaganda or legitimate challenge?
Not all parties accept the military’s narrative. IPOB accused the Nigerian government of orchestrating a calculated plan to demonize the group, fabricate insecurity in the South-East, and unleash violence on civilians.
Specifically, IPOB alleged that IED images published on March 12, 2026, by Lt. Col. Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni were recycled from a 2024 Oyo State bomb incident, not from any IPOB facility in the South-East.
However, the Army pushed back firmly. Lt.-Col. Ayeni stated that geolocation details on the images were deliberately blurred for operational security and stressed the measure was not intended to mislead the public.
He added: “Having lost operational assets and capacity to terrorize residents, they have now resorted to propaganda, fake news, and divisive narratives.”
The Army invited media organizations, civil society groups, and other stakeholders for an independent verification tour of operational areas to view seized IED-making materials without compromising security.
Security vs. Rights: A debate with high stakes
The campaign raises uncomfortable questions beyond the battlefield. The South-East has lost at least 7.6 trillion naira since 2021 due to IPOB-enforced sit-at-home orders, which have paralyzed commerce every Monday across cities like Onitsha, Aba, and Enugu.
Nevertheless, rights groups warn that military escalation carries its own costs. Academic research has documented that IPOB’s proscription reinforced its radicalization and that military engagement has resulted in the killing of civilians who hold legitimate beliefs in self-determination.
Human Rights Watch’s 2026 World Report documents that attacks attributed to IPOB-linked gunmen continued in 2025, while separately noting that the trial of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu on treason and terrorism charges is still ongoing before a Nigerian federal court.
What comes next
The stakes in this conflict extend well beyond military operations. Currently, two-thirds of Nigeria’s states have deployed the armed forces, which are becoming increasingly overstretched as multiple insurgent groups expand their areas of operation.
As a result, analysts warn that a purely military strategy in the South-East may prove insufficient. Political dialogue and economic investment are essential to address the underlying grievances that fuel IPOB’s support base. Furthermore, the ongoing trial of Nnamdi Kanu will test Nigeria’s legal institutions before a watching world.
For millions of ordinary South-East residents caught between separatist enforcement and military operations, the question is no longer simply who wins—but whether peace, when it finally arrives, will be built to last.
In a region where history runs deep and silence can be as dangerous as gunfire, Nigeria’s South-East crisis demands more than bullets to resolve.
This article was compiled from official Nigerian Army statements, Defence Media Operations briefings, Human Rights Watch reports, and peer-reviewed security analysis. All facts and figures reflect verified reporting as of April 5, 2026.
