Troops of the 192 Battalion Nigerian Army (NA) have made a significant breakthrough in the fight against arms smuggling by successfully busting an international ammunition smuggling syndicate.
The operation, which took place on Saturday, July 15, 2023, along the Ajilete-Owode Road in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, resulted in the apprehension of suspects and the recovery of a large quantity of smuggled ammunition.
According to a statement released by Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, the troops acted on actionable intelligence, conducting a meticulous Stop and Search operation. It was during this operation that they discovered a truck bearing the registration number ENU 697 XY, which was transporting a significant cache of smuggled ammunition destined for Anambra State.
The illegal cargo seized by the vigilant troops included 720 packets of Red Star Cartridges of 12 Calibre, each containing 25 cartridges, amounting to a total of 18,000 cartridges.
Additionally, they found 250 packets of live (black) cartridges, containing 10 packets each, totaling 2,500 cartridges of the same calibre.
The suspects involved in the smuggling attempt were swiftly apprehended by the troops.
The individuals were identified as Mr. Eric Seworvor, a Ghanaian national, and the truck’s driver, Mr. Lukman Sani. Both suspects are currently in custody and are cooperating with ongoing investigations.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the smuggled ammunition was cleverly concealed within the seemingly empty truck.
The illicit cargo had been imported from Mali through the Idiroko International Border, with the criminals successfully evading several other checkpoints along their route.
Their intent was to deliver the illegal ammunition to Onitsha, Anambra State.
The timely intervention of the vigilant troops prevented the potential chaos and harm that such a large volume of ammunition could have caused innocent members of the public.
The Nigerian Army commends the troops for their unwavering commitment and calls upon all law-abiding citizens to continue supporting the troops and other security agencies by providing credible and actionable information.
Such cooperation is vital in combating security challenges across the country.
Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, expressed his commendation to the troops for their dedication.
He urged them to maintain their unwavering commitment and work in synergy with other services and security agencies to ensure a safe and secure atmosphere for all Nigerians, fostering socio-economic development throughout the country.
