Troops Arrest 18 Soldiers,15 Police Officers For Arms Trade

The military said the exercise was conducted across 11 states, with suspects arrested in Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, Lagos, among others.

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have announced the arrest of 18 serving soldiers and 15 police officers for allegedly selling arms to terrorists and other criminal elements.

Addressing journalists in Maiduguri on the activities of troops in the North-East, the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, who spoke through his Staff Officer, Administration, Major Ademola Owolana, said Operation Snowball, an exercise launched in August 2024 to target ammunition racketeering in the theatre, has recorded successes.

Major Owolana explained that the exercise was conducted across 11 states, with suspects arrested in Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, Enugu, Lagos, Plateau, Kaduna, Rivers, Taraba, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He added that eight civilians and one traditional ruler were also arrested including one Ameh Raphael, an armourer of the 7th Division Garrison, who has been engaging in the act since 2018 and had N45 million in his bank account.

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He further disclosed that Seidi Adamu of the 3rd division ordinance services, who has also been in the trade since 2022, had N34 million in his bank account.

He further disclosed that investigation revealed that N135 million passed through the bank account of Enoch Ngwa, a police inspector, arrested for arms racketeering.