Troops of Sector 2, Operation UDO KA, operating under Operation Eastern Sanity, have arrested five suspects in Ebonyi State over their alleged involvement in the killing of a police officer in Delta State.
The arrest was carried out in the early hours of Tuesday, April 21, 2026, during a raid on a suspected hideout in Nwofe, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, following what the military described as credible intelligence.
According to a statement issued by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Lt. Col. Olabisi Ayeni, the operation targeted members of a criminal network linked to violent attacks against security personnel.
“Troops of Sector 2, Operation UDO KA, acting on credible intelligence, successfully arrested a notorious IPOB/ESN kingpin known as ‘Calamity’ alongside four other suspects during a raid on their hideout,” the statement said.
The Army alleged that the suspects were connected to an attack on police officers at Okuku-Igbo in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State on February 26, 2026, during which a police officer was killed and another injured. Two AK-47 rifles were also reportedly taken during the incident.
Military authorities further claimed that the group had relocated to Ebonyi State after pressure from security operations in Delta State, where they allegedly set up a new base.
At the time of arrest, the suspected kingpin was found with a black handbag containing five mobile phones and several keys. A black motorcycle believed to have been used by the group was also recovered.
The Army said the suspects are currently in custody and undergoing interrogation as investigations continue to dismantle the wider network of collaborators and recover other weapons.
“This successful operation underscores the determination of the Nigerian Armed Forces to neutralize terrorist threats, restore peace, and protect law-abiding citizens,” the Army said, calling on members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information.
