Troops of Sector 2, Operation UDO KA, under Operation Eastern Sanity, arrested five suspects in Nwofe, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, in the early hours of Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The operation followed credible intelligence linking the group to the killing of a police officer and injury of another during an attack at Okuku-Igbo in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State on February 26, 2026. Two AK-47 rifles were taken during the Delta State incident. The suspects, including a man identified as 'Calamity', alleged to be a kingpin of IPOB/ESN, were apprehended during a raid on their hideout. At the time of arrest, 'Calamity' was in possession of a black handbag containing five mobile phones and several keys. A black motorcycle believed to have been used by the group was also recovered. According to a statement by Lt. Col. Olabisi Ayeni, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, the suspects had relocated to Ebonyi State after intensified security operations in Delta State, where they established a new base. The five individuals are currently in military custody and undergoing interrogation to uncover collaborators and recover hidden weapons. The Army said the operation reflects its commitment to neutralizing threats and maintaining peace under Operation Eastern Sanity. Members of the public are urged to provide timely and credible intelligence to support ongoing security efforts.
The Army claims the suspects fled Delta State due to pressure but set up a new camp in Ebonyi without detection, raising questions about the effectiveness of the very operations said to have driven them out. If security forces could not identify their relocation and reorganization, the timeline suggests a gap in intelligence continuity. The recovery of five phones and a motorcycle from the hideout implies digital and logistical trails that may have been active for weeks. Yet no detail was provided on whether these devices were monitored or tracked prior to the raid.
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