Military Crackdown: Troops Destroy Terrorist Camp in Anambra, Rescue 3 Kidnapped Victims
ANAMBRA, Nigeria—The Nigerian military has scored a breakthrough against regional insecurity, following the dismantling of a strategic terrorist hideout, the rescue of three kidnapped victims, and the recovery of a cache of deadly weapons in Anambra State.
The operation was carried out by the Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA, and coordinated by the 185 Battalion alongside the Anambra Vigilante Group.
The crackdown underscores the Nigerian Army’s offensive to deny criminal networks freedom of action across the South East.
The operation followed the recent abduction of three individuals near the Osakwa General Area in the Ihiala Local Government Area.
Combined security forces launched a rescue mission on October 1, 2026, safely tracking down and freeing all three victims.
During a subsequent snap operation, troops arrested a primary suspect identified as Mr. Sunday Obi. Under interrogation, Obi provided critical intelligence that exposed the exact location of his syndicate’s stronghold—a concealed camp at Abator in the Ogbaru Local Government Area, situated across the Isieke waterside.
The joint forces executed an amphibious assault, utilizing canoes to cross the waterways and catch the criminal syndicate by surprise, where a gun battle ensued, forcing the gang members to abandon their camp and flee.
A sweep of the abandoned enclave revealed that the site served as a major operational and fabrication hub. Security forces seized a significant cache of arms, ammunition, and bomb-making components, including 2 AK-47 rifles (with magazines), 3 pump-action guns, and 3 locally fabricated Dane guns.
149 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, 62 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, and 2 cartridges were also recovered along with raw materials suspected to be intended for manufacturing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), solar panels, a solar generator, a power bank, a car battery, two motorcycle batteries, and two mobile phones.
Military officials noted that the electronics are already yielding valuable data to help map out the wider criminal network.
The Nigerian Army has re-emphasized that Operation UDO KA will maintain its aggressive kinetic and intelligence-led operations to deny safe havens to criminal elements in the region.
Follow-up operations are currently underway to track down the fleeing suspects, their logistics suppliers, and local collaborators. Security agencies continue to urge communities in Anambra to report individuals seeking treatment for unexplained gunshot wounds to local authorities.
