Troops of the Nigerian army have dismantled a camp linked to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), in Imo State, in an operation that also led to the recovery of suspected human remains believed to be those of two soldiers killed in 2022.
The raid, carried out on Thursday along the Ubaha–Orsu axis in Orsu local government area, followed what the military described as actionable intelligence on the location of a suspected hideout operated by the group.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the army said troops from its 82 Division advanced on the camp but were met with resistance, triggering a firefight. The soldiers, it said, repelled multiple ambushes before forcing the assailants to retreat.
The operation formed part of a broader clearance mission targeting armed groups in the south-east, as well as an effort to locate the remains of Master Warrant Officer Linus Musa Audu and Private Gloria Mathew, who were abducted and killed in May 2022 while travelling for their traditional wedding.
Following the takeover of the camp, troops conducted a search of the surrounding area, uncovering shallow graves. The military said the site was excavated and remains recovered, which are now undergoing forensic examination, including DNA testing, to establish their identities.
While the army said the remains were believed to be those of the slain personnel, it added that it was liaising with their families as part of the identification process and to arrange formal burial rites.
The discovery, the statement said, underscored both the military’s pursuit of accountability for fallen personnel and what it described as the continuing degradation of separatist networks in the region.
The campaign against IPOB and its affiliates has intensified in recent years, amid persistent violence in parts of the south-east, where security forces have accused the group of targeting both civilians and state institutions — allegations the organisation has repeatedly denied.
The army said operations would continue until “all criminal elements are neutralised and lasting peace is restored”, urging residents to provide timely information to security agencies.
