Nigerian Army Recovers Suspected Remains of Slain Soldier Couple Four Years After Brutal Ambush in Imo State

Troops dismantle an IPOB/ESN camp in Orsu, recovering remains suspected to be the soldier couple murdered in 2022. Forensic DNA testing is underway.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 25, 2026, 11:11 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Channels Television

Dismantling a Notorious Insurgent Encampment

The Nigerian Army achieved a significant breakthrough in its ongoing efforts to stabilize the South East region with the successful dismantling of a notorious insurgent camp in Imo State. On Friday, April 24, 2026, troops of the 82 Division, in a joint operation with sister services, conducted a deliberate clearance mission along the Ubaha Orsu axis. The operation targeted a stronghold of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). Following a fierce gun battle that forced the insurgents to retreat into the surrounding wilderness, troops secured the facility, which had long served as a hub for regional criminal activities.

The Recovery of Slain Personnel

The primary objective of the mission was to locate the remains of two soldiers, Master Warrant Officer Linus Musa Audu and Private Gloria Mathew. The couple was brutally abducted and murdered in May 2022 while traveling to their traditional wedding ceremony—a crime that drew national outrage at the time. During a thorough search of the cleared camp, soldiers discovered shallow graves containing remains suspected to be those of the fallen personnel. The graves were excavated with care to preserve any evidence, marking a grim but necessary conclusion to a four-year search for the missing soldiers.

Forensic Analysis and Family Liaison

The military authorities have confirmed that the recovered remains have been moved for comprehensive forensic analysis, including DNA testing, to provide definitive identification. The Nigerian Army is currently in communication with the families of MWO Audu and Private Mathew to provide updates and ensure that, once identified, the soldiers are given a burial with full military honors. This process is intended to honor their sacrifice and provide closure to their relatives who have lived with the uncertainty of their whereabouts for several years.