The army has invited media organisations, civil society groups and interested members of the public to participate in a verification tour of areas in Imo State where troops recently recovered Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), following allegations on social media that the images released by the military were manipulated.
In a statement issued on March 15, 2026, acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 82 Division, Olabisi Ayeni, said the viral claims were being pushed by supporters of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
The army had earlier released photographs on March 12 showing IEDs allegedly recovered during ongoing military operations in the South-East.
However, some social media users claimed the images were fake or taken outside the region.
Responding to the allegations, the military said the explosives were recovered during ‘Operation Eastern Sanity’, a security operation being conducted simultaneously in Imo and Anambra States.
Read Also:
- Army uncovers illegal gun manufacturing factory in Cross River
- Nigerian Army invites successful DSSC 29/2026 candidates for training
- Soldier injured as Gunmen ambush Nigerian Army responding to communal clash in Cross River
According to the army, the devices were recovered from camps and hideouts in the Orsu-Eketutu Mother Valley and Orsu–Ihiteukwa areas of Imo State.
It explained that the geo-location data on the published photos was intentionally blurred to protect operational security and not to mislead the public.
The military also accused IPOB sympathisers of manipulating the metadata of the blurred images to falsely suggest the photographs were taken in Lagos and Oyo States.
The statement further alleged that individuals linked to the separatist group had attempted to shift the conversation to the ethnicity of a serving officer involved in the operation rather than addressing the facts surrounding the security activities.
According to the army, troops have recently dismantled several camps, hideouts and IED-making factories allegedly belonging to IPOB and ESN in the “Mother Valley” region spanning parts of Imo and Anambra states.
To counter what it described as propaganda and misinformation, the army said it is opening the operational areas to independent verification.
“Media executives, correspondents, civil society groups and individuals genuinely concerned about the authenticity of these recoveries are invited to come forward for verification,” the statement said.
