Operatives of Nigeria’s Department of State Services have arrested two suspected members of armed groups linked to attacks on security forces in the country’s southeast.
Security sources said the suspects — Sabastine Odo Odam, described as a “notorious” commander of the Eastern Security Network, and Ejike Daniel, a suspected member of the Indigenous People of Biafra — were arrested Friday in Eha-Amufu and Umuhu communities in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Officials said the arrests followed months of intelligence gathering and surveillance.
According to security sources, the two men were allegedly linked to several violent attacks across the region between 2024 and 2026, including raids on police facilities.
“Both men have confessed to being masterminds of a chain of attacks on police stations and carting away weapons,” a security source said.
The suspects were also accused of involvement in multiple killings, including the deaths of 11 laborers in February 2026, two police officers in January 2026, two others in December 2025, and another officer in 2024, among other incidents.
Authorities said the arrests are part of ongoing operations aimed at curbing violence and dismantling armed groups operating in southeastern Nigeria.
“The arrests represent a major success for the DSS in the fight against insecurity in the southeast and the country at large,” the source added.
News of the arrests quickly spread through communities in Isi-Uzo, where residents expressed hope the development would improve security.
Several residents said the operation could help restore peace in areas that have faced repeated attacks in recent years.
The suspects remain in DSS custody and are expected to be arraigned in court after investigations are concluded, the source said.
