Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have raided suspected armouries belonging to the outlawed Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Enugu State in conjunction with troops of the Nigerian Army, seizing a huge cache of arms and ammunition.
Sources in security told Zagagola Makama the operations came after credible intelligence that the group’s members were planning attacks in parts of the South-East.
The first operation was on Tuesday in the Garki area of Enugu State, where security operatives discovered an armoury filled 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.
They also found a bandolier, and a baton.
The operation was based on intelligence that the group was planning attacks in some states in the region, according to a security source.
“The operation was intelligence-driven and targeted facilities used by the group for storing weapons and other logistics,” the source said.
The raid followed the arrest of some suspected members of the outlawed 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.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the purpose of the recovered items and to 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.
The suspects, two of whom 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.
The recent operations reflected the ongoing efforts by security agencies to break up networks of arms trafficking and thwart attacks by criminal and terrorist groups throughout the country, security sources said.
