The Defence Headquarters on Friday announced the arrest of a wanted member of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, identified as Simon Chukwumeoru Akpoke, alias “Iron”, in Ogun State.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this at a press briefing, noting that the suspect was apprehended on March 29, 2026, at his hideout in Ijebu-Igbo, Ijebu North Local Government Area.
Onoja said Akpoke had been on the wanted list of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army in Enugu, adding that his arrest followed credible intelligence.
“The suspect is documented on the wanted list of 82 Division Area of Responsibility,” he said.
In a related development, the military said troops arrested two nurses accused of providing medical support to injured members of the proscribed group in Anambra State.
According to Onoja, one of the suspects was apprehended at a checkpoint in Ihiala Local Government Area after being trailed by troops in collaboration with an anti-violence group.
Preliminary findings, he said, revealed that the suspect had been offering treatment to wounded fighters at a camp located in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area.
The second suspect, identified as Miss Ezinna Anthonia, was arrested in Oraifite, Ekwusigo Local Government Area. She reportedly confessed to serving as the principal nurse responsible for treating injured members of the group after clashes with security operatives.
Onoja added that a senior figure of the group, Ngozi Orabueze, allegedly shared Anthonia’s photograph on social media, a development the military said corroborated her affiliation.
He described the arrests as a significant disruption to the medical and logistical network sustaining the group’s operations in the South-East.
The Defence spokesman further revealed that ongoing operations by troops across various theatres between March 30 and April 2 led to the killing of several insurgents and the arrest of over 20 suspects, including collaborators, arms couriers, illegal miners and drug traffickers.
He added that multiple kidnapped victims were also rescued during the operations.
Reaffirming the commitment of the Armed Forces, Onoja said the military would not relent in its constitutional mandate to safeguard the country’s territorial integrity and ensure the safety of citizens.
He also conveyed the appeal of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, urging Nigerians, community leaders and civil society organisations to provide timely and credible intelligence to security agencies to aid ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.
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