Security operatives from the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Army on Wednesday disrupted a plot by members of the outlawed Eastern Security Network to kidnap students sitting the West African Senior School Certificate Examination across three South East states.

The targeted schools were located in Enugu, Anambra and Imo states. Acting on credible intelligence, DSS operatives and soldiers raided an ESN armoury in the Agbani axis of Enugu State, uncovering a cache of weapons and NYSC uniforms the group had planned to wear during the attacks to create the impression that bandits had invaded the region.

Arms recovered from the Agbani raid included eight AK 47 rifles, 12 AK 47 magazines, 323 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one smoke grenade launcher, two teargas canisters, 10 NYSC trousers, eight NYSC Tshirts and four NYSC lanyards.

A separate operation conducted on Tuesday by a joint DSS and Army team around the Garki area of Enugu led to the discovery of a second ESN armoury. Items recovered there included 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, two teargas canisters, 270 rounds of NATO 7.62x39mm ammunition, 478 rounds of 7.62x39mm special ammunition, a bandolier and a baton. Several members of the organisation were reportedly arrested across both operations.

The DSS disclosed in a statement on Thursday that intelligence had confirmed the ESN's intention to strike selected schools during the ongoing examinations. The recoveries came less than 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 attack succeeded, it would have added to a pattern of school abductions that has repeatedly alarmed Nigerians and drawn international concern in recent years.