By Izunna Okafor, Awka
In what appears to be a significant breakthrough in the ongoing battle against insecurity in Anambra State, operatives of the Joint Security Team have uncovered and dismantled a local bomb factory at Isseke, Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.
The successful raid, which took place on over the weekend, was carried out by a combined team of the Nigeria Police Force, the Military, and the Anambra State Vigilante Services, as part of a broader offensive onslaught against criminal elements still hiding in remote camps within the state.
According to a press release issued on Sunday by the State Police Command and signed by its Spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the bomb factory was one of the key assets of a secessionist-linked criminal group that had turned the area into a dreaded stronghold. He said for over two years, the camp at Isseke remained largely impenetrable, serving as a launchpad for coordinated attacks, ambushes, and various criminal activities within Ihiala and surrounding areas.
SP Ikenga said during the raid, operatives not only destroyed the factory but also recovered and safely demobilized an assortment of locally made improvised explosive devices (IEDs) stored at the facility. He said the operation marks a major milestone in the state’s aggressive crackdown on criminal enclaves that have long posed threats to public peace and safety.
According to the Police Spokesman, it was also revealed that one of the IEDs buried around the camp detonated during the operation, causing considerable damage to the road and environment. The device, believed to have been planted as a defensive shield, was intended to deter security operatives from gaining access to the facility. Fortunately, there was no loss of life recorded during the operation, which the Command attributed to the professionalism and strategic coordination of the Joint Task Force.
SP Ikenga opined that the discovery and dismantling of the bomb-making camp are viewed as a bold statement of intent by the Anambra State Government and its security apparatus in their determination to rid the state of criminal gangs, armed agitators, and terror-linked cells that have held certain communities hostage.
According to the statement, security forces have now sustained operational dominance in the area and are pushing forward with efforts to reclaim and sanitize the entire axis from the grip of criminal elements.
This latest development comes on the heels of intensified security operations across Anambra, particularly in volatile zones such as Ihiala, Orsumoghu, and parts of Nnewi South, which have witnessed repeated attacks in recent times.
While many residents have expressed relief over the successful operation, others are calling for continued intelligence gathering, grassroots collaboration, and increased surveillance to ensure that the criminals do not regroup or relocate to other parts of the state.
Observers say the operation further exposes the sophisticated nature of some of the threats facing the Southeast, where local criminal gangs have increasingly adopted terror-style tactics, including the use of bombs and IEDs.
However, with this milestone achieved, Ndị Anambra have expressed optimistic that normalcy may soon return to previously troubled areas if the current momentum is sustained.
The Anambra State Police Command, while commending the bravery and commitment of the officers involved in the operation, reiterated its appeal to members of the public to continue providing timely and useful information that would aid ongoing efforts to secure the state.
The successful operation at Isseke not only dealt a major blow to criminal operations in Ihiala but also signifies that Anambra will not be a haven for terrorists or armed criminals, no matter how long they hide.
