A major security operation carried out by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force has led to the discovery and destruction of a suspected separatist criminal camp in Anambra State, with authorities recovering a large cache of sophisticated weapons, explosives, and live ammunition believed to have been stockpiled for violent operations in the South-East region.
The operation, which took place in Owerre-Ezukala community in Orumba South Local Government Area of the state, was executed by officers attached to the Inspector General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team and the Rapid Response Squad based in Awkuzu.
Security officials said the raid followed weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance after the arrest of a suspect believed to be linked to separatist activities and violent attacks within the region. Information allegedly obtained from the suspect reportedly led operatives to the remote camp hidden inside a forested area.
According to the Anambra State Police Command, officers encountered armed resistance immediately they approached the location, resulting in a fierce exchange of gunfire between the operatives and members of the armed group.
Police spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, explained that the operation was led by Chief Superintendent of Police Orebe Mathew and involved tactical units specially trained for counterinsurgency and anti-violent crime operations.
He said the suspects eventually fled into surrounding bushes after failing to withstand the superior firepower of the security team, abandoning several weapons and explosives at the scene.
Among the items recovered during the operation were a General Purpose Machine Gun loaded with nearly 2,000 rounds of live ammunition, two locally-fabricated rocket launchers, 25 rocket propellers, and several improvised explosive devices suspected to have been prepared for future attacks.
Operatives also recovered two pump-action rifles, a locally-made Beretta pistol, hand grenades, K2 live ammunition, communication gadgets, batteries, fuel containers, gas cylinders, and various other materials allegedly used by the group for criminal operations.
Police authorities described the discovery as one of the most significant recoveries of illegal arms and explosives recorded in the South-East in recent months.
Investigators believe the camp served as a major operational base for planning attacks against security agencies, government facilities, and public institutions within Anambra and neighbouring states.
The command identified one of the suspects linked to the camp as Nnamdi Ogbonna, a 37-year-old man alleged to be a commander within a proscribed separatist network operating across parts of the South-East.
According to police sources, intelligence obtained from the suspect helped investigators trace the movement of the group and uncover the hidden camp.
Authorities further alleged that the criminal network had been involved in several violent attacks in the region, including assaults on police formations, attacks on security checkpoints, killings of security personnel, and destruction of government infrastructure.
In recent years, the South-East geopolitical zone has witnessed repeated incidents of violence linked to armed criminal groups and separatist agitators. Security agencies have continued to intensify operations across the region amid concerns over growing insecurity, kidnappings, targeted attacks, and the proliferation of illegal arms.
Residents of several communities in Anambra State have repeatedly raised alarm over attacks carried out by gunmen, particularly in rural areas and along major highways. Businesses, schools, and government institutions have also been affected by periodic security threats that disrupted economic and social activities in parts of the state.
Security analysts say the latest recovery highlights the increasing sophistication of weapons being acquired by non-state actors operating within the country. The presence of machine guns, rocket launchers, and improvised explosive devices has raised concerns among experts about the expanding threat posed by illegal arms trafficking and organised criminal networks.
The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, commended the officers involved in the operation and reaffirmed the commitment of the police command to sustaining intelligence-driven operations aimed at dismantling criminal hideouts across the state.
He stated that the command would continue to collaborate with other security agencies to track down fleeing suspects and prevent criminal groups from regrouping.
The commissioner also urged residents to remain vigilant and support security agencies with useful information capable of helping law enforcement authorities prevent attacks and arrest wanted suspects.
Community leaders in parts of Anambra have welcomed the operation, describing it as a positive development in ongoing efforts to restore peace and public confidence in the region’s security architecture.
Observers believe the successful raid could further strengthen ongoing nationwide campaigns against violent extremism, organised crime, and illegal arms possession.
Security experts have also stressed the importance of improving intelligence sharing, border surveillance, and community policing initiatives to address the wider challenge of arms proliferation and insurgent activities in Nigeria.
Authorities assured residents that surveillance operations and clearance exercises would continue across forests, border communities, and suspected criminal hideouts to ensure lasting peace and stability in Anambra State and the wider South-East region.
