Security forces bust ESN armoury, recover machine gun, rocket launcher

A large cache of high-calibre arms and ammunition as well as machine gun and rocket launcher have been uncovered in an armoury reportedly owned by the outlawed Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Enugu State. It was gathered that the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and troops of the Nigerian Army recovered the […]

A large cache of high-calibre arms and ammunition as well as machine gun and rocket launcher have been uncovered in an armoury reportedly owned by the outlawed Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Enugu State.

It was gathered that the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and troops of the Nigerian Army recovered the sophisticated security equipment during a raid that was carried out at the hideouts.

Daily Trust reports that the South East of the country recently witnessed relative peace after forceful cancellation of weekly sit-at-home orders by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Security operatives had also mounted pressure on gunmen wreaking havoc in the region to drop their arms and embrace peace or be neutralised.

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The recovery came barely a week after operatives of the secret police arrested  five suspected arms couriers linked to gunmen that abducted students and staff of St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri Village, Niger State, on November 21, 2025.

The suspects, including two Nigeriens, were nabbed in coordinated operations across Kaduna, Niger and Kebbi states, where 15 AK 103 rifles, 15 magazines and 1,434 rounds of 7.62 mm live ammunition were also recovered

However, security sources confided in Daily Trust on Thursday that intelligence gathered by the secret police revealed that members of the outlawed ESN was planning to renew its bid to unleash terror on some Southeast states.

According to the sources, the plot was to create an impression that bandits have invaded the region, and possibly drive some Nigerians out of the region as against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He explained that the raids became imperative because the outlawed group has been responsible for a series of kidnappings and attacks on security operatives in the Southeast.

“There is a place called Garki area of Enugu, the State capital. Upon getting credible intelligence, both DSS operatives and soldiers swooped on them.

“They launched the raid around the place and they recovered from a rocket launcher, two RPG (rocket propelled grenade) warheads, three RPG chargers, and three AK-47 Rifles from the armoury,” the highly-placed source explained.

The senior security source added that the raid also led to the recovery of six AK-47 magazines, two handheld grenades, one teargas gun, a baton and two teargas canisters.

Also recovered from the ESN camp, according to the senior official, were 270 rounds of NATO 7.62x39mm ammunition, 478 rounds of 7.62X39mm special ammunition, a bandolier and a baton, the source declared.

In a follow-up operation carried out on Wednesday, the joint team of the DSS  and soldiers, raided another armoury of the outlawed ESN members around Agbani axis of the same Enugu.

One of the officials, who was part of the operation narrated that they further recovered high-calibre armaments including eight AK-47 rifles, one Smoke Grenade Launcher, two Tear gas canisters, 12 AK-47 magazines, and 323 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition from that armoury.

According to him, 10 NYSC trousers,  eight NYSC T-shirts and four NYSC lanyards were also discovered and recovered during the separate raids.

Efforts to get official reactions from both the DSS and the Nigerian Army proved abortive as several calls to the telephone of the Army spokesperson, Appolonia Anele, a Colonel, did not connect.

An official email sent to the DSS was yet to be responded as at the time of filing this report.