The Nigerian Army has accused the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its sympathisers of spreading ethnicity-driven propaganda aimed at discrediting military operations in the South-East.
Olabisi Ayeni, the army’s spokesperson, made the disclosure in a statement on Sunday while responding to viral claims suggesting that images of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) recovered by troops were fake.
According to Mr. Ayeni, the images, released on Thursday along with a press statement, depict IEDs recovered during Operation Eastern Sanity, conducted simultaneously in Imo and Anambra states. The explosives were reportedly seized from the Orsu–Eketutu Mother Valley and Orsu–Ihiteukwa areas of Imo as part of ongoing efforts under Operation UDO KA.
He explained that the geo-location data in the photos had been intentionally blurred to protect operational security and were not meant to mislead the public. “The devices in the images were recovered during the ongoing operations in the operational areas, as earlier stated,” he said.
Mr. Ayeni added that IPOB sympathisers had manipulated the blurred metadata and circulated altered versions online, falsely claiming the images were from Lagos and Oyo states. He noted that the propaganda was widely shared on X and Facebook through accounts linked to the group.
Beyond the manipulated metadata, the spokesperson said the group focused on the ethnic identity of a serving officer instead of addressing the facts surrounding the operation, reflecting attempts to sow division, undermine military efforts, and weaken national cohesion.
“It is not gainsaying that troops have dislodged several camps, hideouts, and IED-making factories belonging to IPOB and its armed wing. The camps were located within the Mother Valley general area spanning Imo and Anambra. Having lost operational assets and capacity to terrorise residents, they have now resorted to propaganda, fake news, and divisive narratives,” Mr. Ayeni said.
He also announced that the headquarters of Operation UDO KA had invited media organisations, civil society groups, and other stakeholders for a verification tour of the operational areas. The tour is intended to allow independent observers to confirm the recovery locations and view seized IED-making materials without compromising operational security.
“The Nigerian Army remains a professional, apolitical, and multi-ethnic institution whose personnel serve across the country irrespective of their state of origin,” he added, reaffirming the army’s commitment to national unity and security.
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