Troops of the 82 Division Garrison operating under Sector 1 of Operation UDO KA, in collaboration with operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), have uncovered a suspected arms cache linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), in Enugu State.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 82 Division Nigerian Army, the operation was carried out on June 9, 2026, as part of the ongoing Operation EASTERN SANITY II aimed at enhancing security and consolidating peace efforts in the South-East.
The Army said the operation was based on credible intelligence obtained from previously arrested suspects allegedly affiliated with IPOB and ESN. Acting on the information, security operatives conducted a follow-up raid in Gariki, Enugu South Local Government Area.
During the operation, troops reportedly discovered a concealed arms hideout located inside a zinc structure disguised as a piggery. A search of the facility led to the recovery of a large quantity of weapons and ammunition.
Items recovered include General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), an RPG-7 launcher tube, AK-47 rifles, hand grenades, a tear gas gun with cartridges, AK-47 magazines, 270 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, and 478 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition.
The military said all recovered weapons, ammunition, and arrested suspects have been handed over to the DSS Enugu State Command for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The statement noted that the success of the operation highlights the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration in tackling security threats and disrupting criminal networks operating in the region.
Operation UDO KA reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining offensive operations against criminal and terrorist elements and urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to support efforts aimed at maintaining peace and security across the South-East.
