The Nigerian Army says its troops have destroyed a suspected bomb-making factory in Imo State and reopened a road previously shut down by gunmen.

In a statement, the military said the operation targeted locations believed to be used for assembling explosive devices. However, there was no independent verification of the claim at the time of reporting, and officials did not provide details on casualties or the factory’s exact location.

The Army said the mission was carried out under Operation UDO KA as part of Operation Eastern Sanity, a wider campaign to tackle insecurity and restore normal life across the South-East.

According to the statement, troops conducted clearance operations in the Orsu–Eketutu Mother Valley and Orsu–Ihiteukwa areas. The effort focused on removing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and making it safer for displaced residents to return.

On March 6, 2026, soldiers from the 34 Artillery Brigade, alongside personnel from other security agencies, carried out a joint operation along the Lilu–Eketutu Road. The Army described the road as a key route that had been abandoned for more than three years due to repeated attacks.

During the operation, troops reportedly found and safely removed several explosive devices, allowing movement to resume on the road.

A follow-up operation on March 11 in the Orsu–Ihiteukwa area also involved clearing explosives from major routes. The Army said multiple devices detonated as troops advanced but that the operation continued.

The military added that a suspected bomb-making facility linked to IPOB/ESN fighters was later discovered. Items recovered included flags, ammunition, weapons, cameras, and materials believed to be used for assembling explosives. Additional devices were also found and destroyed.

Despite these claims, the announcement has sparked controversy online.

Some social media users and analysts have alleged that images released by the Army were manipulated. They claimed metadata suggested the photos originated from locations in Lagos and parts of the South-West Oyo/Ondo rather than Imo State, that the Nigerian army blurred the image location and said it is from imo state.

In response, the Army’s 82 Division dismissed the allegations, describing them as propaganda by IPOB sympathisers. It said certain details in the images were intentionally blurred for security reasons.

The debate intensified after reports that one of the images shared as proof was labelled “Nkwerre, Anambra, Nigeria,” even though Nkwerre is located in Imo State. Critics say this raises further questions about the accuracy of the material released by the Nigerian army.

Calls have since been made for an independent forensic review of the images and related evidence.

Meanwhile, residents and local officials continue to report security concerns in parts of Imo State, including intermittent road closures linked to gunmen.

The Army maintains that its operations are aimed at improving safety and restoring normal movement and economic activity in the region. However, independent confirmation of the latest claims was still unavailable at press time.