A joint security operation by the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services (DSS) has led to the arrest of a man suspected of manufacturing explosives for the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Abia State.
The arrest was reportedly carried out in the early hours of July 12 during a coordinated raid on a hideout in Ummuene community, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area. The operation followed intelligence gathered by security agencies, according to sources familiar with the development.
Security sources disclosed that troops from the Headquarters, 14 Brigade, working alongside DSS operatives from the Abia and Enugu State Commands, stormed the location at about 3:50 a.m., leading to the suspect’s arrest without incident.
The suspect is alleged to be a bomb-making specialist linked to the IPOB/ESN network, although authorities have yet to release his identity. During the operation, security operatives reportedly recovered two mobile phones, which are expected to aid ongoing investigations.
Following the raid, the suspect and the recovered items were transferred to the DSS Abia State Command, where further investigations are underway to determine the extent of his alleged involvement and identify possible accomplices.
Security officials described the operation as part of a broader intelligence-driven campaign targeting criminal and extremist groups operating across Nigeria’s South-East region. The strategy, they said, is aimed at disrupting the activities of armed networks and improving security in the area.
Authorities have not issued an official statement on the arrest, but security sources insist that operations against violent criminal groups will continue as intelligence gathering and coordinated enforcement efforts are intensified.
