Troops of Joint Task Force South East Operation Udoka have uncovered an illegal arms supply network in the South East, leading to the arrest of two officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and one officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service over allegations of supplying weapons to criminal elements in the region.
Those arrested were identified as Assistant Superintendent II Obaji Sampson of the NSCDC, Superintendent Tasie Victor Nnamdi, who serves as the unit armourer of the NSCDC Enugu State Command, and Assistant Superintendent of Corrections Ekwueme Onyebuchi Clement.
The Nigerian Army disclosed this in a statement, saying the arrests were part of ongoing intelligence led operations targeted at dismantling criminal networks across the South East.
According to the statement, the operation formed part of the military’s broader offensive against violent groups in the region and has so far resulted in the arrest of several suspects, as well as the recovery of arms, ammunition and other items considered useful to ongoing investigations.
The Army also gave details of a separate operation carried out in Cross River State, where troops of 245 Battalion, working alongside the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, raided Balep Community along the Ikom Ogoja Road.
During the operation, three suspects were arrested and several items were recovered, including two Dane guns, one locally made pistol, six cartridges, military web equipment, a woodland camouflage jacket, a strike face metal plate, an axe and substances suspected to be cannabis.
The statement explained that the arrest of Obaji Sampson followed intelligence provided by the 82 Military Intelligence Brigade. Acting on the information, troops of the 82 Division Provost Group and Sector 2 of Operation Udoka moved in and apprehended him.
Further investigation, according to the Army, led to the arrest of Tasie Victor Nnamdi, who was identified as the main supplier of the weapons, as well as Ekwueme Onyebuchi Clement, who was described as a major recipient in the network.
The military said the arrests exposed what appears to be a coordinated illegal arms supply chain involving security personnel and criminal actors.
In another operation triggered by fresh intelligence, troops of 82 Division Garrison and Sector 1 Operation Udoka, in collaboration with the 82 Division Provost Group, raided a residence at Achara Road, Trans Ekulu, Golf Estate in Enugu State, where a suspected IPOB and ESN member identified as Friday Nnanna was arrested.
A search of the premises led to the recovery of 247 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 12 rounds of 9mm pistol ammunition, 29 live cartridges, four pump action guns, one Beretta pistol, 11 different vehicle registration plates, materials suspected to be for making improvised explosive devices, assorted swords, one smoke tear gas canister, military accoutrements, several other items and four vehicles.
The Army said the suspect and all recovered items are currently in military custody as investigations continue.
It reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence based operations against criminal elements and their collaborators, adding that troops would continue to work with other security agencies to deny criminals freedom of action, protect lives and property, and support efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability across the country.
