A wanted member of the proscribed IPOB/ESN terrorist group, Simon Chukwumeoru Akpoke alias “Iron”, has been arrested at his hideout at Ijebu-Igbo in Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The arrest of Akpoke on March 29, 2026, who has been on the wanted list of 82 Division Enugu, followed credible intelligence, the Director Defence Media Operations (DMO), Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed at a news conference on Friday.

“The suspect is documented on the wanted list of 82 Division Area of Responsibility,” he said.

Onoja further disclosed that two nurses treating wounded members of IPOB were arrested on March 31.

He said troops, in conjunction with the Anti-Violence Group, trailed and apprehended one of the nurses at a checkpoint in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, saying that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a nurse responsible for providing medical treatment at a terrorist camp located at Umunze in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Onoja said the other, identified as Miss Ezinna Anthonia, was nabbed at Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State.

According to the DMO, Anthonia confessed to being the principal nurse responsible for treating wounded IPOB/ESN terrorists following every encounter with security forces.

“She confirmed her membership of the proscribed group. Significantly, the so-called prime minister of the proscribed group, Ngozi Orabueze, subsequently posted the suspect’s photograph on her X (formerly Twitter) handle, inadvertently corroborating her affiliation with the group.

“These arrests represent a significant blow to the medical and logistical support networks sustaining IPOB/ESN operations in the South East.”

Onoja revealed that the operations conducted by troops across all theatres between 30 March and 2 April 2026 led to the killing of several terrorists.

He said over 20 suspects were arrested across all theatres, including terrorists, collaborators, arms couriers, illegal miners, and drug traffickers, while multiple civilian kidnapped victims were rescued.

The DMO assured that the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) will neither relent nor be deterred in its constitutional mandate to protect every Nigerian and secure the sovereignty of the nation.

He quoted the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, as appealing to Nigerians, community leaders, traditional rulers, and civil society organisations to continue to support the Armed Forces by

providing timely and credible intelligence on the activities of terrorists, criminal gangs, and economic saboteurs.

The Guardian, but headline rejigged)

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