By Imisioluwa Afunmiso
Troops of Sector 2 under Operation UDO KA have arrested a suspected kingpin of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), in Ebonyi State.
The suspect, identified by his alias “Calamity,” was apprehended alongside 4 others during a raid on their hideout in Nwofe, Izzi Local Government Area, in the early hours of Tuesday.
The operation, conducted as part of the ongoing Operation EASTERN SANITY, followed credible intelligence linking the group to the killing of a police officer and the injury of another during an attack at Okuku-Igbo in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State on February 26, 2026.
According to a statement issued by the Nigerian Army and signed by Lieutenant Colonel Olalekan Ayeni, the attackers had during the incident carted away 2 AK-47 rifles.
Preliminary findings indicate that the suspects fled Delta State amid intensified security operations and relocated to Ebonyi State, where they established a new base to continue their activities.
“Acting on actionable intelligence, troops stormed the hideout and apprehended five suspects, including the commander known as ‘Calamity’ and four other key members of IPOB/ESN,” the statement said.
Items recovered from the suspects include a black handbag containing 5 mobile phones, several keys, and a motorcycle believed to have been used for their operations.
The military disclosed that the suspects are currently in custody and undergoing further investigation aimed at dismantling the wider network and recovering additional weapons adding that the operation underscores the commitment of the Armed Forces, in collaboration with other security agencies, to combating criminality and restoring peace in the South-East and neighbouring regions.