Mbah hails DSS, Army after major ESN arms bust in Enugu

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has lauded the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Police for their successful operation that led to a significant arms cache seizure from commanders of the outlawed Eastern Security Network (ESN). The commendation followed Mbah's inspection of the recovered weapons at the DSS headquarters in Enugu.

The raid, conducted by DSS operatives with support from troops of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, uncovered a substantial quantity of high-calibre arms and ammunition. Among the seized items were a rocket launcher, two RPG warheads, three RPG chargers, 11 AK-47 rifles, and over 610 rounds of NATO 7.62×39 mm ammunition. The discovery also included National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) uniforms and lanyards, suggesting potential misuse or infiltration.

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According to the governor, but for the diligence and intelligence of the DSS and sister security agencies, the recovered arms and ammunition would have been used by ESN terrorists to wreak havoc across the South and paint a false picture that insecurity has taken over Nigeria.

Governor Mbah, accompanied by senior military and police officials, praised the diligence and collaborative efforts of the security agencies. He stated that the recovered weapons, if not intercepted, could have been used by ESN operatives to perpetrate widespread terror and create a false narrative of insecurity engulfing Nigeria and the Southeast region.

Mbah took the opportunity to call for national unity in tackling insecurity, urging Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu's administration. He specifically thanked the President for his administration's support to states in their fight against insecurity, attributing the successes recorded by security agencies to this backing. Intelligence gathered from arrested ESN members indicated the group was planning attacks to instill panic and falsely portray the region as overrun by bandits.

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He thanked the President for supporting states in the fight against insecurity, saying such efforts are responsible for the successes being recorded by security agencies across the country.