On Saturday, July 15, troops from the Nigerian Army’s 192 Battalion acting in the 81 Division Area of Responsibility busted an international ammunition smuggling organization while moving a truckload of munitions to Anambra State.
The military, acting on actionable intelligence, conducted a stop-and-search operation along Ajilete-Owode Road in Ogun State’s Yewa North Local Government Area and discovered illicit ammunition in a truck with the license plate ENU 697 XY.
The vehicle was loaded with 720 packets of (red) cartridges of 12 calibre, each packet holding 25 rounds. The total number of cartridges is 18,000 units. There were also an additional 250 packs of live (black) cartridges, each with 10 packets, for a total of 2,500 cartridges of the same calibre.
Mr. Eric Seworvor, a Ghanaian, and the driver, Mr. Lukman Sani, have been arrested and are cooperating with the ongoing investigations. According to information acquired during the preliminary inquiry, the munitions, which was hidden in a supposedly empty truck, was entered from Mali via the Idiroko border.
President Buhari receives Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano in State House(Photos)
Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, issued the following statement:
“The criminals had successfully evaded several other checkpoints on their way to Onitsha, Anambra State, where they planned to deliver the illegal ammunition.”
“However, the timely intervention of the vigilant troops averted the chaos that such a large amount of ammunition would have wreaked on innocent members of the public if the criminals had succeeded.”
“As a result, the Nigerian Army appeals to all law-abiding citizens to continue to provide credible and actionable information to the troops and other security agencies as they combat security challenges across the country.”
“The Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, has praised the troops for their dedication and urged them not to give up as they strive for victory.”
“Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff, praised the troops for their dedication and urged them not to give up as they work with other services and security agencies to provide a safe and secure environment for all Nigerians and the country’s socioeconomic development.”