Troops of the Joint Task Force South-East, Operation UDO KA, have uncovered a suspected illegal arms supply network in Enugu State, leading to the arrest of serving security personnel and the recovery of weapons, ammunition and other military items in a series of intelligence-led operations.
According to the task force, the operation began after intelligence gathered by the 82 Military Intelligence Brigade led to the arrest of Assistant Superintendent II Obaji Sampson of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Further investigations resulted in the arrest of Superintendent Tasie Victor Nnamdi, the Unit Armourer of the NSCDC Enugu State Command, who the military identified as the principal supplier in the suspected arms network. Troops also arrested Assistant Superintendent of Corrections Ekwueme Onyebuchi Clement, who was identified as a major recipient.
In a separate operation in Enugu State, troops of the 82 Division Garrison and Sector 1, working alongside the 82 Division Provost Group, raided a residence on Achara Road in the Trans-Ekulu Golf Estate area. During the operation, they arrested Friday Nnanna, whom the military described as a suspected member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), as well as a suspected gun runner.
Items recovered during the raid included 247 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 12 rounds of 9mm pistol ammunition, 29 live cartridges, four pump-action guns, a Beretta pistol, 11 vehicle registration plates, materials suspected to be used in the fabrication of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), assorted swords, a smoke tear gas canister, military accoutrements and four vehicles.
The military said the suspect and all recovered items remain in custody while investigations continue.
In Cross River State, troops of the 245 Battalion, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), also raided Balep Community along the Ikom–Ogoja Road, where three suspects were arrested.
Recovered from the operation were two Dane guns, a 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 Joint Task Force said the operations form part of ongoing efforts under Operation UDO KA to dismantle criminal networks and disrupt the illegal circulation of arms across the South-East. It added that intelligence-driven operations against criminal elements and their collaborators will continue across the region.
