Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 14 Brigade, Ohafia, Abia State, have uncovered improvised explosive devices in a forest at Umuchinma, in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state.
The discovery was made during intensified operations targeting the activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network.
In a statement on Monday, the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 14 Brigade, Captain Mazinho Atta, said the operation formed part of preparations for the Brigade’s ongoing Operation Eastern Sanity offensive.
He disclosed that on February 8, 2026, at about 9:00 a.m., troops conducting clearance operations along the Umuchinma pipeline route leading into the forest discovered two IEDs.
According to Atta, the devices were locally fabricated using 5kg gas cylinders, nails, water-gel explosives, two detonators, and electrical cables.
He added that further search of the area led to the recovery of four empty cartridge cases and two bags filled with nails.
“The troops also successfully cleared a camp belonging to the criminal elements. This success followed credible intelligence provided by a suspect currently under investigation, who had earlier confessed to being a subject-matter expert,” the statement said.
The Brigade Commander, Brigadier General A.M. Dikko, commended the troops for their professionalism and resilience, noting that clearance operations in the Umuchinma forest were ongoing.
He assured residents that although the security situation within the brigade’s area of responsibility remained calm, it was still unpredictable, stressing that troops were maintaining maximum vigilance.
