DSS, Military Foil Kidnap Of WAEC Students In South-East, Recover Weapons

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in collaboration with troops of the Nigerian Army have foiled a coordinated attempt by members of the proscribed Eastern Security Network (ESN) to abduct scores of students writing the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in parts of the South-East.

The operation, carried out on Wednesday following credible intelligence, targeted planned attacks on selected secondary schools in Enugu, Anambra and Imo states. Security forces reportedly stormed an ESN armoury located in the Agbani axis of Enugu State, where the group was allegedly preparing for simultaneous school kidnappings.

According to a statement issued by the DSS on Thursday, the raid led to the recovery of a significant cache of weapons and operational materials intended for the planned attacks. Items recovered included eight AK-47 rifles, 12 magazines, and 323 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

Other items recovered were a smoke grenade launcher, two tear-gas canisters, and several NYSC-branded uniforms, including 10 trousers, eight T-shirts and four lanyards, which investigators believe were to be used as disguises to infiltrate school environments and avoid detection during the planned operation.

The statement further revealed that intelligence indicated the attackers intended to disguise themselves as National Youth Service Corps members in order to create confusion and falsely suggest that non-state actors were responsible for any resulting violence.

Security operatives also confirmed that several suspects were arrested during the coordinated raids, while another armoury was earlier uncovered around the Garki axis of Enugu State during a separate joint operation involving DSS operatives and soldiers.

In that earlier operation, troops reportedly recovered additional weapons including a rocket launcher, RPG warheads, rifles, magazines and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. The DSS said the sustained operations were part of ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist networks targeting educational institutions.

The agency noted that the foiled attack comes amid renewed concerns over school abductions in Nigeria, particularly in northern and eastern regions, where armed groups have repeatedly targeted students and teachers in recent years.

Authorities described the operation as a major breakthrough in preventing what could have been a large-scale kidnapping incident and reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining intelligence-led counter-terrorism operations nationwide.