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.
The operation was carried out on June 9 as part of the ongoing Operation Eastern Sanity II, a security initiative aimed at consolidating peace and combating criminal activities in the South-East.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Lt. Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, the operation followed actionable intelligence obtained from suspects previously arrested for alleged links to IPOB and ESN activities.
Acting on the intelligence, troops and DSS operatives conducted a targeted follow-up operation in the Gariki area of Enugu South Local Government Area, where they uncovered a concealed weapons depot.
The military said the arms cache was hidden inside a zinc structure disguised as a piggery.
A thorough search of the location led to the recovery of a large quantity of weapons, ammunition and other military-related items.
Items recovered included 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 described the discovery as a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal and terrorist networks operating within the region.
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The military further disclosed that all recovered items, alongside suspects linked to the operation, have been handed over to the DSS Enugu State Command for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Operation UDO KA said the success highlights the effectiveness of intelligence-driven operations and inter-agency cooperation in addressing security threats in the South-East.
The military noted that proactive actions such as the operation are critical to preventing attacks, disrupting illegal arms networks and safeguarding public safety.
Reaffirming its commitment to maintaining peace and security, Operation UDO KA pledged to sustain offensive operations against groups and individuals seeking to undermine stability in the region.
The military also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing that community support remains vital to ongoing efforts to preserve peace, protect lives and strengthen national security.