Security Forces Prevent Planned Abduction of WAEC Students, Recover Cache of Weapons

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), working alongside troops of the Nigerian Army, have foiled what authorities described as a major plot to abduct students sitting for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in parts of the South-East.

The operation, carried out on Wednesday, followed intelligence reports indicating that members of the outlawed Eastern Security Network (ESN) were allegedly planning coordinated attacks on schools in Enugu, Anambra and Imo states.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the DSS disclosed that operatives, acting on credible intelligence, raided an alleged ESN armoury located in the Agbani area of Enugu State.

According to the agency, the operation led to the recovery of a large cache of weapons, ammunition and materials allegedly intended for use during the planned attacks.

Recovered items included eight AK-47 rifles, 12 AK-47 magazines, 323 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, a smoke grenade launcher, two teargas canisters, as well as several National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) uniforms and identification accessories.

The DSS said intelligence gathered during the operation indicated that members of the group intended to disguise themselves in NYSC attire while carrying out the planned attacks on schools. Authorities further alleged that the operation was designed to create the impression that armed bandits had infiltrated the South-East region.

Several suspects were reportedly arrested during the raid and are currently assisting investigators. The agency also disclosed that a separate joint operation conducted earlier in the week around the Garki area of Enugu resulted in the discovery of another armoury linked to the group.

Among the weapons recovered during that operation were a rocket launcher, rocket-propelled grenade warheads, assault rifles, hand grenades and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

Security officials said the operation represents a significant breakthrough in ongoing efforts to prevent attacks on schools and safeguard candidates participating in the nationwide examination.

The foiled plot comes amid renewed concerns over school abductions across Nigeria, where students have repeatedly been targeted by criminal and terrorist groups in recent years.