In a major security breakthrough, troops of Operation UDO KA Sector 5, working in close coordination with operatives of the 63 Brigade of the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services (DSS), have intercepted a large consignment of ammunition allegedly meant for the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
The operation, which was carried out on May 29, 2025, along the Asaba–Onitsha expressway, led to the arrest of a suspected arms courier identified as Mr. Emeka Omenife. Acting on credible intelligence, the joint team halted a truck found to be carrying 164,650 live cartridges cleverly concealed in specially constructed compartments within its cargo bed.
Security sources revealed that the intercepted ammunition was allegedly smuggled in from Ghana, with Onitsha as the destination point for distribution to IPOB/ESN operatives across the Southeast.
Omenife, upon arrest, was immediately transferred to the DSS for interrogation, during which he reportedly confessed to being part of an organized arms smuggling syndicate supplying ammunition to secessionist fighters operating under the IPOB/ESN umbrella.
His confession led to a follow-up operation on May 30, 2025, resulting in the arrest of an accomplice, Mr. Uchenna Obiora, at the Onitsha–Awka tollgate, where he was allegedly waiting to receive the consignment.
“The intercepted truck was moved to the Onitsha Cantonment, where a meticulous search uncovered a total of 164,650 live cartridges concealed in four hidden compartments,” a top security source told Zagazola Makama.
It was also gathered that this was not Omenife’s first encounter with security forces. On January 22, 2025, he was arrested at his residence in Onitsha Housing Estate during a joint operation involving military personnel and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). At that time, he attempted to flee and was shot in the buttocks before being taken to the 302 Army Regiment Medical Services for treatment and later handed over to the Anambra State Police Criminal Investigation Department, Annex Akwuzu, for prosecution.
The circumstances surrounding his release from custody remain unclear. His re-arrest in May strongly suggests he returned to the same criminal enterprise, raising serious questions about the legal processes that followed his earlier arrest.
The IPOB/ESN Threat
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), founded by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is a separatist movement advocating for the secession of the southeastern region of Nigeria to form an independent nation called Biafra. The group was proscribed as a terrorist organization by the Federal Government in 2017 due to its violent activities and inflammatory rhetoric.
To enforce its agenda, IPOB established the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in December 2020, presenting it as a regional vigilante group. However, the ESN quickly morphed into an armed militia, accused of launching violent attacks on security formations, government institutions, and innocent civilians—particularly targeting northern traders, security personnel, and those opposed to IPOB's ideology.
Despite government crackdowns, the IPOB/ESN network continues to operate underground cells, relying heavily on foreign-based supporters for funding and international propaganda, while establishing arms supply routes through West African borders.
National Security at Stake
The recent interception of the truckload of ammunition is viewed as a significant step in breaking the back of the group’s supply chain. Authorities believe the bust will slow down the operational capacity of IPOB/ESN and prevent further violence in the region.
Investigations are ongoing to track down other members of the smuggling ring and their sponsors. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army and DSS have reiterated their commitment to safeguarding the unity and territorial integrity of the country against secessionist and terrorist threats.