Nigerian Army troops have continued to tighten the security net across the South-East and South-South regions, recording fresh gains against criminal networks, separatist militants, and kidnapping syndicates through coordinated military operations backed by actionable intelligence.
A senior military source disclosed that troops under Operation UDO KA achieved a major breakthrough in Anambra State after flushing out suspected fighters of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
The operation was carried out in the Mother Valley area of Orsumoghu, located within Ihiala Local Government Area, a location previously identified as a stronghold for militant activities.
According to the source, intelligence reports indicated that the armed group had been regrouping in the area with plans to enforce an illegal sit-at-home order that would disrupt economic and social activities.
Acting on the intelligence, Nigerian Army troops launched a swift and coordinated assault combining ground forces with aerial support.
The offensive reportedly caught the militants off guard, forcing them to abandon their camps and retreat into surrounding forested areas.
Surveillance drones and intercepted radio communications suggested that several fighters were neutralised during the engagement, although a full assessment of casualties is still ongoing.
Troops have since maintained a dominant presence in the area to prevent the regrouping of fleeing elements and to reassure residents who had lived under persistent fear.
Security officials noted that the success of the Anambra operation highlights the growing effectiveness of intelligence-led security approaches, especially in regions where non-state actors have relied on intimidation and violence to assert control.
The sustained military operations have also limited the ability of such groups to openly mobilise or enforce illegal directives.
In a separate but equally disturbing development in Ebonyi State, soldiers uncovered a mass burial site in Amasiri, Afikpo North Local Government Area.
The discovery followed credible intelligence pointing to the possible concealment of victims killed during earlier violent attacks on nearby communities.
Preliminary investigations revealed multiple corpses buried in shallow graves, believed to be victims of past assaults linked to criminal or militant activity.
One of the bodies was identified as a resident who had been reported missing weeks earlier.
The remains were evacuated to a morgue in Afikpo for preservation, identification, and further forensic analysis, while investigations continue to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Residents of the affected communities expressed shock at the discovery, describing it as a grim reminder of the insecurity that had plagued the area before the renewed military operations.
Community leaders have since called for sustained security presence and thorough investigations to ensure justice for the victims and closure for their families.
Meanwhile, in the South-South region, Nigerian Army troops attached to the 4 Brigade, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, recorded another operational success in Edo State.
Acting on intelligence, security forces carried out a raid on suspected criminal hideouts within the Agbede Forest in Etsako West Local Government Area.
During the operation, five individuals suspected to be members of a kidnapping syndicate were apprehended.
Items recovered from the suspects included two motorcycles believed to be used for surveillance and escape, five mobile phones suspected to contain communication records with accomplices or victims’ families, and a power bank used to keep devices operational in forest camps.
Security sources confirmed that the suspects and recovered exhibits were handed over to the Edo State Police Command for further investigation and prosecution.
Authorities believe the arrests have disrupted a kidnapping network that had been terrorising commuters and rural communities in the area.
Military authorities stressed that the series of successful operations across both regions demonstrate improved coordination among security agencies, enhanced intelligence gathering, and sustained pressure on criminal and separatist elements.
They added that the Nigerian Army remains committed to protecting lives, restoring public confidence, and ensuring that residents can go about their daily activities without fear.
The source further emphasized that ongoing military operations are part of a broader strategy to stabilise volatile areas, dismantle criminal infrastructure, and support civil authorities in maintaining law and order.
Troops are expected to continue patrols, surveillance, and targeted raids as intelligence becomes available.
As security forces maintain their presence, residents across the South-East and South-South have been urged to cooperate with authorities by providing timely information and avoiding actions that could undermine peace efforts.
The military reaffirmed its resolve to restore lasting security and normalcy in all affected communities.
Ireport247news
