Deadly Hideout Falls: Security Sweep Neutralises Deadly Hideout, Bomb Factory in Anambra

 

A significant blow has been dealt to secessionist insurgents in Anambra State as security operatives dismantled a long-standing criminal fortress in Isseke, Ihiala Local Government Area. The hideout, described as a once-impenetrable camp, served as a base of operations for a secessionist group responsible for widespread violence across the region over the past two years.

The operation, spearheaded by a joint task force comprising personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, military, and the Anambra State Vigilante Service, took place on Saturday, May 24, 2025. The effort culminated in the destruction of a locally-operated bomb factory and the demobilisation of various improvised explosive devices (IEDs), many of which were buried within and around the perimeter of the camp.

Tochukwu Ikenga, spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, confirmed the development in a press release issued on Sunday. According to him, the raid marked the beginning of an intensified crackdown aimed at reclaiming territories held by criminal factions aligned with separatist ideologies.

The criminal enclave, which had resisted security interventions for more than two years, was heavily fortified and utilized to launch attacks, ambushes, and terror campaigns within Anambra State. Security agents who led the operation encountered resistance, including concealed explosives intended to delay or deter access to the camp. One of the buried IEDs detonated during the incursion, causing significant damage to a nearby roadway. However, no casualties were reported among the security personnel.

Officials described the device as a defensive mechanism, tactically placed by the insurgents to thwart any external breach. Despite the strategic complexity of the camp's layout and its embedded explosives, the operatives successfully penetrated the facility, neutralized its dangers, and dismantled its key infrastructure—including the bomb-making site.

Eyewitnesses in the area recounted hearing heavy explosions and spotting military convoys converging around Isseke. Although initial fears spread through neighboring communities, reassurance came swiftly after the announcement that no civilians were harmed and that the area was now under security control.

The clearance of the camp, according to Ikenga, is a pivotal step in the ongoing efforts by security agencies to restore peace and order to Anambra. He noted that this operation is part of a broader strategy to eliminate the residual elements of insurgency in the state. The security team remains on the ground, conducting follow-up sweeps and surveillance to prevent a resurgence of the group or attempts to rebuild the destroyed infrastructure.

Residents of Ihiala, long terrorized by the presence of these armed elements, have expressed cautious optimism following the security success. For many, the destruction of the bomb factory signals a turning point in the state’s battle against separatist-induced insecurity.

While the identities and affiliations of the insurgents operating from the camp remain under investigation, law enforcement sources indicated that intelligence gathering is ongoing. Arrests may follow as information is extracted from materials recovered at the scene.

This latest development underscores the resilience of joint security efforts and the importance of inter-agency collaboration in confronting internal threats. Authorities have urged the public to continue cooperating with security forces by reporting suspicious activities and remaining vigilant as the stabilization process continues.

As of now, the reclaimed area remains under tight security monitoring, and operations have expanded into nearby locations believed to harbor remaining elements of the secessionist faction.