The relative calm returning to parts of the South-East is being sustained by continued military pressure on separatist groups and other criminal elements, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Oluremi Ayobami Fadairo, has said.

Fadairo, who is also the Commander, Joint Task Force South-East, Operation Udo Ka, said troops would not relent in their efforts to prevent criminal groups from regaining footholds in the region.

He spoke while receiving participants of Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) Course 10/2026 during their Operational Theatre Visit to the headquarters of 82 Division in Enugu.

The study tour, which began on September 3 and ended on September 6, was designed to expose the participants to the realities of military operations and the security challenges confronting the South-East.

According to Fadairo, the security situation within the division’s area of responsibility remains relatively stable and under control, following sustained operations against the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Eastern Security Network (ESN) and other criminal groups.

He attributed the progress to intelligence-driven operations, aggressive patrols and targeted clearance missions, which he said had destroyed criminal hideouts and disrupted the activities of the groups.

The GOC, however, cautioned that the gains could not be taken for granted, stressing the need for continuous assessment of the security environment and effective use of intelligence to prevent residual threats from resurfacing.

He urged the war college participants to draw from the operational experiences and lessons gathered during their visit to develop innovative and sustainable strategies for tackling the country’s evolving security challenges.

Fadairo also stressed the need for security agencies to remain proactive and intelligence-led while maintaining a strong focus on protecting life and property.

He disclosed that the military was preparing for intensified dry-season operations under Operation Eastern Sanity II, with the objective of sustaining pressure on criminal networks and preventing their resurgence.

The GOC reiterated that the Armed Forces of Nigeria would continue to take lawful and decisive action against groups whose activities threaten national security.

He also emphasised the importance of cooperation among the military, other security agencies and relevant stakeholders in consolidating peace and stability in the region.

For the war college participants, the visit offered a practical glimpse into the challenges faced by troops operating in an environment where conventional military tactics are often complicated by asymmetric threats.

The programme included tours of sectors within the division’s areas of responsibility, a visit to the National War Museum, wargaming exercises and presentations on the operational achievements and challenges of Joint Task Force South-East, Operation Udo Ka.

The sessions also provided insights into lessons learned from ongoing operations and the broader peace-building efforts aimed at consolidating the relative stability achieved in the South-East.