Operatives of the Department of State Services and troops of the Nigerian Army have successfully thwarted an alleged plot by suspected members of the outlawed Eastern Security Network to abduct students writing the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination in parts of the South-East. Security authorities say the planned attacks were to target selected schools in Enugu, Anambra, and Imo states, a scheme that would have threatened the lives of hundreds of candidates.
Acting on credible intelligence, a joint team of DSS operatives and soldiers conducted a covert operation that led to the raid of an ESN armoury in the Agbani axis of Enugu State. The raid yielded a significant cache of high-calibre weapons, including eight AK-47 rifles, 12 AK-47 magazines, and 323 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition. Additionally, security forces recovered one smoke grenade launcher, two teargas canisters, 10 pairs of NYSC trousers, eight NYSC T-shirts, and four NYSC lanyards.
Intelligence reports indicate that the suspected ESN members had planned to wear the NYSC uniforms as a disguise to execute the attacks and create the impression that bandits had invaded the region. Several members of the organisation were reportedly arrested during the operation. In a separate operation on the preceding day, a team comprising DSS operatives and soldiers raided another ESN armoury in the Garki area of Enugu, where they recovered a rocket launcher, two rocket-propelled grenade warheads, three RPG chargers, three AK-47 rifles, six AK-47 magazines, two handheld grenades, one teargas gun, a baton, two teargas canisters, 270 rounds of NATO 7.62x39mm ammunition, and 478 rounds of 7.62x39mm special ammunition.
The success of these operations, according to security sources, was facilitated by the earlier apprehension of two ESN field commanders who were coordinating the planned attacks. These commanders were arrested on Monday in Garki, Enugu State, and the leads they provided were instrumental in the subsequent raids. The development comes barely a week after DSS operatives arrested five suspected arms couriers linked to gunmen who abducted students and staff of St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri Village, Niger State, on November 21, 2025. Had the latest plot succeeded, it would have further heightened concerns over the resurgence of school kidnappings in Nigeria, where students have repeatedly been targeted by criminal and terrorist groups in recent years.
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