Barely a few days after a joint task force led by the Nigerian Army took over the operational headquarters of the Eastern Security Network (an armed unit of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)), journalists and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have been invited for a verification tour at the site.
This invitation was borne out of the viral online stories linked to IPOB that stress that the images published on 12 March 2026, along with a media release on Nigerian Army social media handles showing recovered Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from Orsu-Eketutu Mother Valley and Orsu-Ihiteukwa, in Imo State, were fake and manipulated.
The Nigerian Army said it cannot fold its arms and watch IPOB discredit all efforts to restore security in Orsu using its teams of fake news merchants led on X (Twitter) by Harry Da Diegot @trigottista and on Facebook by @Adaigboglobal.
The army said that on both platforms, IPOB manipulated the metadata of the images released (with blurred metadata) along with the press release on 12 March 2026, imposing another geolocation reading of Lagos and Oyo states.
According to the army, IPOB has also chosen to use the ethnic identity of a serving officer rather than engage with the substance of the security operation, stressing that these acts show how IPOB/ESN can stoop so low to manipulate the good people of Igbo land and Nigeria as a whole.
“The emphasis on ethnicity, rather than facts, represents the very foundation of divisive narratives being propagated by IPOB/ESN to undermine peace and stability in the Southeast and national cohesion in our dear country,” said Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, said.
The army said that the devices in the images released were recovered during the ongoing operations EASTERN SANITY conducted simultaneously in Imo and Anambra states, as stated in the media releases on this operation.
It added that the geolocations on the pictures were blurred for operational security reasons and not for any ulterior motives as are being propagated by Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) sympathisers on social media.
The army said that it is not a gainsaying that troops have completely dislodged many camps, hideouts and IED-making factories belonging to IPOB and its armed wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN), in the MOTHER VALLEY general area, cutting across these two states.
It added that unfortunately for IPOB, having lost all assets and been rendered ineffective to terrorise the good people of Igbo, their case is now that of a dying ember that still smoulders; they have resorted to sowing seeds of discord, poisoning the well and weaponising identity.
The army said that in order to disarm IPOB propaganda and build bridges, HQ Operation Udoka (OPUK) invites media executives, media correspondents, civil society groups and individuals who are genuinely concerned about the authenticity of these recoveries and the location where they are recovered from to please kindly come forward for verification.
According to the army, “Representatives may contact the Headquarters 82nd Division Army Public Relations to arrange an inspection tour of the operational areas and to view recovered IED-making materials as evidence in a manner that does not compromise ongoing operations or personnel safety.”
The Nigerian Army says it is and remains an apolitical, professional and multi-ethnic institution, as personnel of the army are deployed across the country irrespective of state of origin in service to the nation.
“We therefore call on all Nigerians and social media users to exercise restraint and verify information from official channels before amplifying claims. It is also important to prioritise national unity over ethnic point‑scoring.
“For verification requests or further enquiries, please contact HQ 82 Division Army Public Relations, and appointments will be provided to media and civil society representatives who are interested in the tour.
“The original images taken at the operation area, the blurred images on Nigerian Army social media platforms and manipulated pictures by IPOB sympathisers are attached for your perusal and further analysis.”
