Gov Mbah Hails DSS, Army Over Major Arms Haul From ESN Camp, Says Tinubu’s Support Driving Security Gains

By Joyce Babayeju

Governor Peter Mbah on Friday praised the Department of State Services, Nigerian Army and Nigeria Police for their role in securing the Southeast, after inspecting a large cache of arms seized from Eastern Security Network commanders in Enugu.

Mbah gave the commendation during a visit to the DSS State Headquarters where he viewed weapons recovered Tuesday in a joint raid by DSS operatives and troops of the 82 Division, Nigerian Army.

The recovered items include a rocket launcher, two RPG warheads, three RPG chargers, 11 AK-47 rifles, over 610 rounds of 7.62x39mm NATO ammunition, plus NYSC uniforms and lanyards.

The governor, accompanied by Garrison Commander Brig. Gen. Abubakar Suru, State Police Commissioner Bitrus Giwa and other officials, lauded the “hard work and collaboration” among security agencies.

“Had it not been for the diligence and intelligence of the DSS and sister agencies, these arms would have been used by ESN terrorists to wreck havoc across the South and create a false impression that insecurity has taken over Nigeria,” Mbah said.

He urged Nigerians, regardless of political or religious leaning, to support President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to tackle insecurity. Mbah credited the President’s support to states for the “successes being recorded by security agencies.”

Security sources said the raid followed intelligence from arrested ESN members who revealed plans to attack Enugu and other Southeast states to spread panic and suggest bandits had invaded the region.

The Enugu seizure came two days before a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced five bandit collaborators to 25 years each for aiding the November 21, 2025 abduction of students and staff of St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State. The five were arrested by DSS operatives last week in separate operations.