𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘆 𝗜𝗣𝗢𝗕, 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱

The Nigerian Army has announced the recovery of what are suspected to be the remains of two of its personnel, Master Warrant Officer Linus Musa Audu and Private Gloria Mathew, years after they were brutally abducted and murdered by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

Troops of the 82 Division recovered the remains during a clearance operation on Thursday along the Ubaha Orsu axis of Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State.

The army, in a statement signed by its spokesperson on Saturday, said the operation was part of a deliberate mission to dismantle IPOB/ESN hideouts in the region and locate the remains of the slain soldiers.

“Acting on intelligence information, the operation, conducted on 24 April 2026 along the Ubaha Orsu axis of Orsu Local Government Area, was part of a deliberate clearance and search mission aimed at dismantling IPOB/ESN hideout within the region and locating the remains of two personnel of the Nigerian Army, Master Warrant Officer Linus Musa Audu and Private Gloria Mathew, who were brutally abducted and murdered by IPOB/ESN terrorists in May 2022 while en route for their traditional wedding,” the army statement read in part.

The army said troops advanced on a suspected hideout when they came under heavy attack.

“Acting on credible intelligence, troops advanced towards a suspected IPOB/ESN hideout when they came under heavy attack by armed criminals,” the statement said. “Demonstrating resilience, the troops decisively engaged the terrorists, successfully repelling multiple ambushes and forcing the criminals to flee in disarray.”

Following the clearance, the army said a thorough search led to a grim discovery.

“Following the successful clearance of the camp, troops conducted a thorough search of the area and made a grim but important discovery — shallow graves suspected to contain the remains of the slain personnel. The graves were carefully excavated and suspected remains were recovered,” the army added.

The statement noted that the remains have been secured for forensic analysis. “The recovered remains have since been secured for detailed forensic analysis, including DNA testing, to conclusively establish their identities.

Efforts are also ongoing to liaise with the families of the fallen personnel to ensure proper identification and facilitate befitting burial arrangements in honour of their sacrifice.”

Background

Master Warrant Officer Linus Musa Audu and Private Gloria Mathew were abducted in May 2022 while travelling to celebrate their traditional wedding.

The couple, both serving soldiers, were intercepted by IPOB/ESN operatives along a road in Imo State. They were subsequently killed despite efforts by the military to locate them.

Their disappearance sparked widespread outrage, and their families had since been demanding justice and the recovery of their remains for proper burial.

Thursday’s operation, according to the army, not only recovered the suspected remains but also dealt a significant blow to the group’s infrastructure in the South East.

The army assured the public that operations would continue “until all criminal elements are neutralised and lasting peace is restored across the region.”