The Nigerian military has announced a major breakthrough in its efforts to stabilize the Southeast and South-South regions, citing the arrest of high-ranking insurgent leaders and the systematic dismantling of medical and spiritual support hubs used by criminal groups.
​During a monthly briefing at the Defence Headquarters, Major General Michael Onoja revealed that recent operations have shifted from reactive rescues to the proactive “decapitation” of command structures belonging to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its Eastern Security Network (ESN).
​The Fall of “Calamity” and “Baron”
​The centerpiece of this month’s report is the capture of Mr. Chinidu Agao (alias Calamity), a notorious ringleader described as a linchpin for operations spanning Delta and Ebonyi States.
​Following Calamity’s arrest on April 21, military intelligence led troops to his associate, Mr. Chisholm Agashi Ogadeku (alias Baron), on April 28. Under interrogation, Ogadeku confessed to his involvement in the movement of AK-47 rifles used in the February attacks on Nigerian Police personnel and detailed how the cell coordinated kidnappings across state lines.
​Neutralizing the “Life Support” Infrastructure
​Beyond individual arrests, the military highlighted a strategic focus on the logistics that keep these groups operational:
- ​Medical Sabotage: In a surgical move on March 31, troops arrested two nurses in Anambra State who were providing clandestine medical care to wounded fighters. Officials say this move has “critically dismantled” the group’s ability to sustain personnel after firefights.
- ​The Agile Forest Enclave: On April 27, joint ground troops and aircraft destroyed a massive staging base in the Agile Forest, Enugu State. The operation neutralized the group’s “spiritual coordination hall,” dugout trenches, and multiple victim-operated Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), effectively erasing a key logistics hub.
​South-South: Securing the Economic Lifeline
​Parallel to the counter-insurgency in the Southeast, Operation Delta Safe focused on economic sabotage and community safety. Troops recovered over 101,000 liters of stolen petroleum products and destroyed illegal refineries that fuel criminal financing.
​The military also reported a string of successful rural interventions, rescuing elderly citizens and farming families. Notable among these was the rescue of 72-year-old Mr. Joe Ngugwu and several others who had been snatched from their farmlands.
​A Message of Vigilance
​Major General Onoja emphasized that the military is now focused on “complete dismantling” rather than mere containment. By targeting the nurses who heal them, the shrines that motivate them, and the leaders who command them, the Armed Forces aim to create a permanent security vacuum for criminal elements.
​”The armed forces is committed to protecting Nigerians in their most vulnerable moments—whether in the forest, on farms, or in transit,” Onoja stated.
