DSS, Army Foil Planned School Kidnappings in Southeast, Recover Arms Cache

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and troops of the Nigerian Army have foiled a major attempt by members of the outlawed Eastern Security Network (ESN) to kidnap students sitting for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination in parts of the Southeast.

The targeted schools were located in Enugu, Anambra, and Imo states, where the suspected attackers allegedly planned coordinated abductions during the examination period.

According to a statement released by the DSS on Thursday, the joint security team acted on credible intelligence and raided an ESN armoury located in the Agbani axis of Enugu State, disrupting what was described as a planned large-scale attack.

The agency stated that intelligence reports indicated the suspects intended to carry out the operation while disguised in National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) uniforms in order to create confusion and mislead the public into believing bandits were responsible.

During the operation, security forces reportedly recovered a large cache of weapons, including eight AK-47 rifles, magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, a smoke grenade launcher, teargas canisters, and several NYSC uniforms and accessories allegedly meant for the planned disguise. Additional raids around the Garki area of Enugu also led to further recoveries, including rocket launchers, RPG warheads, grenades, and more ammunition.

The DSS confirmed that several suspects were arrested during the operations. It added that the latest action follows earlier arrests of suspected arms couriers linked to kidnappings, including the abduction of students and staff of St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State, noting that the foiled plot, if successful, could have worsened concerns over rising school kidnappings across the country.



Elijah Adeyemi