In a joint operation with troops of the Nigerian Army, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have raided suspected armouries belonging to the outlawed Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Enugu State, seizing a huge cache of arms and ammunition.
Security sources told Zagagola Makama that the operations were carried out following credible intelligence indicating that members of the group were planning attacks in parts of the South-East.
The first operation was Tuesday in the Garki area of Enugu State, where security operatives discovered an armoury loaded with sophisticated weapons.
Items recovered in the raid included a rocket launcher, two rocket-propelled grenade warheads, three RPG chargers, three AK-47 rifles and six AK-47 magazines.
The operatives also recovered two hand grenades, a teargas gun, two teargas canisters, 270 rounds of NATO 7.62x39mm ammunition and 478 rounds of 7.62x39mm special ammunition.
Other recovered items included a bandolier and a baton.
The operation was launched on intelligence that the group was planning attacks in some states in the region, a security source said.
“The operation was intelligence-driven and targeted facilities used by the group for storing weapons and other logistics,” the source said.
The raid came after the arrest of some alleged members of the banned group in the state.
In a follow up operation on Wednesday, the joint security team reportedly raided another suspected armoury in the Agbani area of Enugu State.
The operation recovered eight AK-47 rifles, one smoke grenade launcher, 12 AK-47 magazines, two teargas canisters and 323 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
Operatives also recovered 10 National Youth Service Corps trousers, eight NYSC T-shirts and four NYSC lanyards from the location, security sources said.
The investigations continue to try to determine the purpose of the recovered items and identify other members of the network.
This latest operation follows barely a week after DSS operatives arrested five suspected arms couriers linked to gunmen involved in the abduction of students and staff of St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri Village, Niger State.
Two of the suspects, who are Nigerien nationals, were arrested in a coordinated operation across Kaduna, Niger and Kebbi states.
The suspects were found to be in possession of 15 AK-103 rifles, 15 magazines and 1,434 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.
Security sources said that the recent operations were a continuation of efforts by security agencies to dismantle arms trafficking networks and foil attacks by criminal and terrorist groups across the country.
