Troops of a joint security task force have killed one suspected member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and arrested two others during a coordinated raid on Mother Valley in Nkwere area of Anambra State.
The operation involved personnel of the Joint Task Force Southeast under Operation Udo Ka, who advanced on foot into the difficult terrain of the valley following intelligence reports of sustained criminal activity in the area.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Nigerian Army on Friday, which confirmed that the operation was carried out on February 26, 2026, following actionable intelligence on the presence of armed IPOB elements in the area.
Mother Valley has, over time, been linked to repeated security threats and was believed to serve as a hideout for armed elements operating under the IPOB and its paramilitary wing.
Security sources said the operation was launched to disrupt planned attacks, dismantle logistical networks, and prevent the use of the location as a staging ground for violent activities in surrounding communities.
The joint task force comprised troops of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, working in collaboration to execute the operation.
The security agencies were said to have advanced for several hours through restricted routes before making contact with the suspects.
“During the intense engagement, the criminals employed locally made hand-held IEDs and heavy gunfire in a desperate attempt to halt the advance. Undeterred, troops decisively overwhelmed the hostile elements, neutralizing one IPOB member while several others fled with gunshot wounds, effectively shattering their defensive positions and operational cohesion,” the military disclosed on Friday.
“In a related operation, two suspected IPOB members were arrested by an ambush team, one while attempting to emplace an IED and the other identified as a spy monitoring troop movements,” it added.
According to the military, a significant cache of weapons and logistics was recovered, including two pump-action guns, one locally fabricated gun, one tear gas gun, seven gas cylinders, an electric kettle, and flags linked to extremist propaganda.
Troops also destroyed all life-support structures at the terrorists’ Supreme Headquarters in the valley, including solar panels and a Mikano generator, dealing a critical blow to their operational sustainability.
Additionally, one KIA saloon car and one black Toyota Sequoia jeep were recovered from a terrorist car park within the valley.
According to the statement, the suspects are currently in custody for profiling and further investigation, while troops continue aggressive clearance operations to deny the criminals any freedom of action.
“This decisive operation sends a clear and unmistakable warning to all criminal elements: there will be no hiding place, no sanctuary and no escape,” it stated.
The Nigerian Army also reaffirmed its committed to dismantling all terrorist networks across the South East and the entire nation.
It further assured citizens of sustained security presence and protection, while criminals should expect swift, overwhelming and lawful force wherever they attempt to threaten peace and stability.
