Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have raided a suspected secessionist camp in Owerre‑Ezukala, Orumba South Local Government Area, recovering a massive cache of heavy weapons, explosives and thousands of rounds of ammunition after a fierce gun battle with armed suspects. The raid, conducted on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, was led by the Inspector‑General of Police’s Violent Crime Response Unit under the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, and commanded by Chief Superintendent of Police Orebe Mathew. The operation followed actionable intelligence obtained from a 37‑year‑old suspect already in custody, Nnamdi Nkemdilim Ogbonna, described by police as one of the top commanders of a proscribed secessionist group.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra State, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the intelligence revealed that some fleeing gang members were attempting to regroup at the camp, which had earlier been destroyed by a joint security team. When operatives stormed the location, they engaged the armed suspects in an intense gun duel, forcing several of them to flee with varying degrees of bullet injuries. No casualties were reported among the security personnel, and the police said the camp was completely dismantled.
The arsenal recovered from the hideout included one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) loaded with about 2,000 rounds of live chain ammunition, two fabricated rocket launchers with 25 propellers, ten locally made Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), one locally made Beretta pistol, two pump‑action guns, three hand grenades, ten rounds of K2 live ammunition, one gas cylinder and one black Ecolac box. The seizure of rocket launchers, IEDs and a GPMG marked one of the largest recoveries of heavy weaponry from a criminal camp in the state in recent years.
In a separate interview, police sources confirmed that the suspect in custody, Nnamdi Ogbonna, confessed to participating in several violent attacks across Anambra State. According to the police statement, the suspect admitted involvement in attacks on police facilities, the killing of security personnel drawn from the police, military and civil defence, attacks on government facilities and the murder of security operatives conducting stop‑and‑search operations on major roads within the state.
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, while addressing journalists at the command’s headquarters in Awka, commended the operatives for the successful operation. He noted that the establishment of the Violent Crime Response Unit has strengthened the command’s capacity to sustain offensive operations against criminal elements threatening peace and security in the state. Orutugu also reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and assured residents that security forces would continue aggressive patrols and clearance operations in criminal flashpoints.
The camp, located in the hilly terrain of Owerre‑Ezukala, is believed to have served as a logistics hub for the proscribed secessionist group, which has been linked to a spate of attacks on government infrastructure, police stations, and military convoys in the South‑East. The raid came on the heels of similar operations in the state, including a May 4, 2026, operation in which police recovered another General Purpose Machine Gun with 2,000 rounds of ammunition, two pump‑action guns, three hand grenades, and other dangerous items from a hideout in Obosi.
Following the raid on May 6, police operatives also carried out a follow‑up operation in Obosi, dislodging the armed criminals and sustaining operational dominance in the area to prevent any regrouping. The CP warned that the command would not relent in its determination to rid the state of criminal elements and urged residents to continue providing useful information to security agencies.
The arrest of Nnamdi Ogbonna, who police said was one of the top commanders of the proscribed group, is expected to yield further intelligence that could lead to the arrest of other members of the network and the recovery of additional weapons. As the operation continues, the police have assured residents of Anambra State that the area remains calm and that security monitoring is ongoing to ensure the safety of all citizens.
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