Troops Arrest Five Suspects in Ebonyi Over Killing of Police Officer

Troops Arrest Five Suspects in Ebonyi Over Killing of Police Officer

Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation UDO KA (Operation Eastern Sanity) have arrested five suspected members of a criminal network linked to the killing of a police officer in Delta State, following a coordinated intelligence-led raid in Ebonyi State.

The operation was carried out in the early hours of Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at a suspected hideout in Nwofe, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, where soldiers reportedly acted on credible intelligence tracking the movement of fleeing suspects involved in violent crimes against security operatives.

The arrest was confirmed in a statement by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Lt. Col. Olabisi Ayeni, who said the raid was part of ongoing military counter-terrorism and internal security operations aimed at dismantling armed criminal networks across the region.

According to the Army, the suspects are linked to a deadly attack on police officers on February 26, 2026, at Okuku-Igbo in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, where one officer was killed, another injured, and two AK-47 rifles were allegedly stolen during the incident.

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Military authorities said intelligence reports revealed that the group responsible for the attack fled Delta State following intensified security pressure and later established a new operational base in Ebonyi State to continue their activities.

The Army further alleged that the arrested suspects include a key commander of the group, described as a notorious IPOB/ESN-linked kingpin known as “Calamity,” alongside four other members of the network.

During the raid, troops reportedly surrounded and secured the hideout, arresting all five suspects without resistance. At the time of arrest, the suspected leader was found with a black handbag containing five mobile phones and several keys, while a motorcycle believed to have been used by the group was also recovered.

Security sources said the suspects are currently in custody and undergoing interrogation to uncover further details about their operations, collaborators, and possible weapons caches linked to the group.

The Nigerian Army stated that the operation reflects its continued efforts under Operation Eastern Sanity to neutralize violent criminal groups, restore security, and prevent further attacks on law enforcement personnel and civilians.

Military authorities added that investigations are ongoing to dismantle the wider network allegedly connected to the group and recover weapons believed to have been hidden in different locations.

The Army also called on residents to support ongoing security operations by providing credible and timely intelligence that can assist in identifying criminal hideouts and preventing future attacks.

According to security officials, sustained collaboration between the public and security agencies remains critical to improving security in Nigeria’s South-East and South-South regions, where sporadic attacks on security operatives have persisted.

Troops Arrest Five Suspects in Ebonyi Over Killing of Police Officer