By Ele Wada
The Nigerian Army has recorded significant operational gains across the South-east and parts of Cross River State, degrading the capacity of violent groups and criminal networks through sustained kinetic and non-kinetic operations, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Major General Oluremi Fadairo, has said.
Briefing journalists during a media tour of Operation UDO KA on Tuesday, Major General Fadairo attributed the improved security outcomes to enhanced joint operations and stronger inter-agency coordination, driven by the strategic direction of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede.
He said the Division’s area of responsibility remains challenged by the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), alongside kidnapping syndicates, illegal oil bunkering networks, arms proliferation and communal conflicts. According to him, the intensified deployment of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), particularly in Imo and Anambra states, posed serious threats, but counter-IED operations had begun to yield tangible results.
“From August 2025 to date, the Division has conducted phased kinetic and non-kinetic operations under Operation UDO KA, with measurable improvements in the security environment,” he said.
The GOC disclosed that Phase One, which emphasised de-escalation and containment, led to the clearance and destruction of 45 IPOB/ESN-linked camps, including a major facility operated by a notorious commander in Okigwe, Imo State.
Within the same period, he said troops recovered assorted arms and ammunition, including AK-47 rifles, locally fabricated weapons and explosive devices, while several suspects were arrested and handed over to relevant authorities. Anti-illegal bunkering operations, he added, resulted in the destruction of 51 illegal refining sites, the arrest of 12 suspects, and the seizure of vehicles, boats, tankers and crude oil processing equipment.
On kidnapping, Major General Fadairo said 32 incidents were recorded across six states in the Division’s area of operations, noting that troops rescued 49 abducted victims through targeted rescue missions.
He explained that Phase Two, described as the decisive phase, focused largely on Imo and Anambra states, where intensive clearance and raid operations were carried out in difficult terrains. These actions, he said, led to the destruction of additional camps and IED-making facilities, forcing several commanders to abandon their hideouts.
The GOC also highlighted the impact of Operation SAFE EMBER during the 2025 festive season, during which troops rescued kidnap victims along inland waterways, foiled boat hijackings, and recovered weapons and explosives from forest hideouts in Enugu State.
Beyond combat operations, Major General Fadairo noted that non-kinetic initiatives ranging from civil-military cooperation projects and medical outreaches to skills acquisition programmes for veterans and disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) efforts encouraged the voluntary surrender of militants in parts of Cross River and Ebonyi states.
While acknowledging persistent challenges, including misinformation, politicisation of security operations and alleged foreign funding of armed groups, he expressed confidence that sustained inter-agency collaboration and deeper community engagement would further stabilise the region.
Major General Fadairo reaffirmed the 82 Division’s commitment to consolidating operational gains in line with the Nigerian Army’s mandate and called for continued engagement with the media to ensure accurate and responsible reporting of security developments.