By Harriet Tornguvan
Troops of Operation Eastern Sanity have intensified their offensive against the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), recording fresh gains in Anambra and Imo states.
The sustained clearance operations, conducted in collaboration with other security agencies and supported by the Nigerian Air Force, are aimed at restoring lasting peace and security across the South-East.
Troops advanced on Camp Gbadoanya in Orsumoghu, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State on March 3, 2026, where remnants of IPOB/ESN fighters had reportedly regrouped. The joint force engaged and cleared the camp and surrounding enclaves, identifying and dismantling several insurgent hideouts in the process.
Security sources disclosed that multiple camps were thoroughly exploited and destroyed. Recovered items included pump-action guns, locally fabricated dane guns, assorted rifle magazines and components, belts of ammunition, and cutting machines.
Troops also uncovered Biafran currencies, materials used for the production of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), as well as musical instruments reportedly belonging to a so-called Biafran Army Band.
Additionally, a Biafran flag and a Biafran Army Headquarters flag were recovered during the operation. The troops subsequently destroyed the separatist insignia and hoisted the Nigerian flag at the cleared camps, symbolising the restoration of government authority.
In a follow-up operation on March 4, 2026, troops extended the clearance exercise within Camp Gbadoanya, dismantling additional hideouts. They also uncovered and neutralised an IED fabrication site. The facility was carefully exploited before being destroyed to prevent future use.
Items recovered from the bomb-making site included welding, drilling and filling machines, several car batteries, an electrode welding handle, twelve locally fabricated guns and various rifle components, alongside other IED-making equipment.
Military authorities affirmed that Operation Eastern Sanity will continue to sustain pressure on criminal elements across the region, warning that there will be no safe haven for insurgents threatening public safety.
The renewed offensive underscores the determination of security forces to dismantle terror networks and stabilise communities affected by separatist violence in the South-East.
