Abuja, Nigeria – In a major breakthrough, troops from the 192 Battalion of the Nigerian Army operating in the 81 Division Area of Responsibility intercepted a truckload of smuggled ammunition enroute to Anambra State. The operation, conducted on Saturday, July 15, 2023, resulted in the arrest of an international ammunition smuggling syndicate and the recovery of a significant cache of illicit firearms.
Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, released a statement in Abuja detailing the successful operation. Acting on actionable intelligence, the troops conducted a meticulous and rigorous Stop and Search operation along the Ajilete-Owode Road in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State. It was during this operation that they discovered the illegal ammunition concealed in a truck with registration number ENU 697 XY.
The seized truck was found to be loaded with 720 packets of Red Star Cartridges of 12 Calibre, each containing 25 cartridges, amounting to a total of 18,000 cartridges. Additionally, the troops discovered 250 packets of live (black) cartridges, each containing 10 packets, totaling 2,500 cartridges of the same calibre.
Two individuals were apprehended during the operation. The suspects were identified as Mr. Eric Seworvor, a Ghanaian national, and the truck’s driver, Mr. Lukman Sani. They are currently in custody, assisting with ongoing investigations into the international ammunition smuggling syndicate.
Preliminary investigation has revealed that the ammunition was surreptitiously concealed in the supposed empty truck and smuggled into Nigeria from Mali via the Idiroko International Border. The criminals managed to evade several other checkpoints along their route before reaching their final destination in Onitsha, Anambra State, where the illegal ammunition was intended to be delivered. Thanks to the vigilant troops and their timely intervention, the potential chaos and danger that this large quantity of ammunition could have unleashed on innocent members of the public was averted.
The Nigerian Army is urging all law-abiding citizens to continue supporting the troops and other security agencies by providing credible and actionable information. This support is crucial as the military and security forces combat security challenges across the country.
Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, commended the troops for their commitment and urged them not to relent in their efforts. He emphasized the importance of synergy between different services and security agencies to provide a safe and secure atmosphere for all Nigerians, promoting socio-economic development throughout the country.
This significant operation marks a major victory in the fight against illegal arms trafficking and reinforces the Nigerian Army’s commitment to maintaining peace and security within the nation.
