Army debunks ‘fake IED’ claims, invites media to verify recoveries in Imo, Anambra

Headquarters of Operation UDO KA and the 82 Division Nigerian Army have dismissed viral social media claims, alleging that images of recovered Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from operations in Orsu-Eketutu Mother Valley and Orsu–Ihiteukwa were fabricated or manipulated.

Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, Lieutenant Colonel and acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 82 Division Nigerian Army, in a statement on Sunday, said the images, which accompanied a media release on March 12, 2026 were authentic and were taken during ongoing Operation EASTERN SANITY conducted simultaneously in Imo and Anambra State.

According to the Army, the geolocation details on the images were deliberately blurred for operational security reasons and not to mislead the public as alleged by sympathisers of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on social media.

The military maintained that troops had successfully dismantled several camps, hideouts and IED-making factories belonging to IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, within the Mother Valley axis, spanning Imo and Anambra States.

It added that following the loss of their operational bases, IPOB and ESN elements had resorted to spreading disinformation and divisive narratives online in an attempt to discredit ongoing military operations.

The Army further alleged that some social media users linked to IPOB manipulated the metadata of the images circulated online by replacing the original geolocation with references to Lagos and Oyo States, in an effort to cast doubt on the authenticity of the recoveries.

It also condemned attempts by online actors to focus on the ethnic identity of a serving officer rather than the substance of the security operation, describing such actions as part of a broader strategy to undermine peace, stability and national cohesion.

To counter what it described as propaganda, the Army invited media organisations, civil society groups and other interested stakeholders to independently verify the recoveries and the locations where they were made.

The Headquarters said arrangements could be made through the 82 Division Nigerian Army Army Public Relations office for guided inspection tours of the operational areas and viewing of recovered IED-making materials without compromising ongoing operations or personnel safety.

Reaffirming its commitment to professionalism, the Army stressed that it remains an apolitical and multi-ethnic institution, with personnel deployed across the country regardless of state of origin in service to the nation.

It urged Nigerians and social media users to verify information through official channels before sharing unverified claims and to prioritise national unity over ethnic divisions.