A joint security team has uncovered and destroyed a local bomb factory in Isseke Community, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, just two days after the killing of four family members by gunmen in the same area.
Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the operation in a statement released on Sunday.
According to the statement, the raid was carried out on Saturday as part of a coordinated assault on a criminal hideout believed to be operated by secessionist elements. Ikenga said the joint operation involved personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, and local vigilante groups.
“During the raid, a local bomb-making facility was destroyed, and several improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered and safely dismantled,” he stated.
He noted that the camp, regarded as one of the final strongholds of the armed group, had remained inaccessible for over two years and was frequently used as a base for violent attacks across the region.
Ikenga revealed that one of the planted IEDs exploded during the operation, damaging a portion of the road leading to the camp. “The explosive was meant to serve as a barrier against security forces. Fortunately, no casualties were recorded,” he added.
The police spokesperson assured that security forces are maintaining a strong presence in the area to ensure full recovery and prevent further criminal activities.
This is not the first time such a facility has been discovered in Anambra. In December 2024, security operatives recovered 19 unexploded IEDs in Nimo, Njikoka Local Government Area. Similarly, in January 2025, five gunmen were killed, and more explosives were seized during a raid in Ufuma, Orumba North LGA.
The Nigerian government has consistently blamed the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a banned separatist group, for the unrest in the South-east. However, IPOB has denied any involvement in the violence.
The group continues to advocate for an independent Biafran state, comprising parts of Nigeria’s South-east and South-south regions.
