Troops Raid Hideout, Arrest Suspected IPOB/ESN Commander and Four Others in Ebonyi
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested a suspected commander of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), alongside four other suspects during a targeted raid in Ebonyi state.
Security sources told Zagazola that the operation was conducted at about 1:42 a.m. on April 21 by troops of Sector 2 under Operation UDO KA, following credible intelligence on the location of the suspect.
The sources said the raid targeted the hideout of a wanted suspect identified as Mr. Chinedu Igautu, also known by the alias “Calamity,” who is believed to be a commander within the IPOB/ESN structure operating in Delta State.
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Further intelligence reportedly linked the suspect to an attack on police personnel at Okuku-Igbo in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State in February 2026.
According to the sources, troops stormed the hideout located in Nwofe community, Ebonyi Local Government Area, where the suspect and four others were apprehended without resistance.
Items recovered during the operation include five mobile phones and a motorcycle key.
Military authorities said the suspects are currently in custody for further interrogation and investigation.
They added that the operation forms part of ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal and separatist-linked networks operating within the South-East and adjoining states.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to sustained intelligence-led operations aimed at ensuring peace, security, and stability in all affected areas.