Enugu, June 10, 2026 — Security forces have uncovered a major arms cache linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), during a coordinated operation in Enugu State.
The development was disclosed in a press statement issued by the Nigerian Army and signed by Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division.
According to the statement, troops of the 82 Division Garrison, operating under Sector 1 of Operation UDO KA, in collaboration with operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), carried out the intelligence-driven operation on June 9, 2026, in Gariki, Enugu South Local Government Area.
The operation followed credible intelligence obtained from previously arrested suspects, leading to the discovery of a concealed arms depot hidden in a zinc structure disguised as a piggery.
Recovered items include General Purpose Machine Guns, an RPG-7 launcher tube, AK-47 rifles, hand grenades, a tear gas gun with cartridges, multiple AK-47 magazines, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
The Army stated that all recovered weapons and arrested suspects have been handed over to the DSS Enugu State Command for further investigation and appropriate legal action.
The statement noted that the operation forms part of ongoing efforts under Operation EASTERN SANITY II to dismantle criminal networks and strengthen peace and security in the South-East.
Military authorities also emphasized that the success underscores effective inter-agency collaboration and intelligence-led operations, while urging the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.
