An international ammunition smuggling syndicate has been busted by troops of 192 Battalion Nigerian Army (NA) operating in 81 Division Area of Responsibility.
According to a statement by the Nigerian army, the syndicate was transporting a truckload of smuggled ammunition to Anambra when the truck was intercepted.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu, on Monday said the operation took place on Saturday along Ajilete-Owode Road in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.
He said the development followed an actionable intelligence made available to the troops.
Nwachukwu said, “The troops, who acted on actionable Intelligence conducted a meticulous and rigorous Stop and Search operation along Ajilete-Owode Road in Yewa North LGA of Ogun State and uncovered the illegal ammunition in a truck with Registration number ENU 697 XY, loaded with 720 packets of Red Star Cartridges of 12 Calibre, containing 25 cartridges per packet, totalling 18, 000 cartridges and an additional 250 packets of live (black) cartridges containing 10 packets each, totalling 2500 cartridges of same calibre.”
Additionally, he said the suspects, identified as Eric Seworvor, a Ghanaian national, and the driver, Mr Lukman Sani, have been taken into custody and are helping with ongoing investigations.
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He said preliminary investigation has revealed that the weapons were smuggled from Mali, via Idiroko International Border.
“Information gathered during preliminary investigation revealed that the ammunition, which were surreptitiously concealed in a supposed empty truck were imported from Mali, via Idiroko International Border, where the criminals had successfully beaten several other checkpoints en-route their final destination in Onitsha, Anambra State, where they intended to deliver the illegal ammunition. Timely intervention by the vigilant troops, however, thwarted the chaos that such volume of ammunition would have unleashed on innocent members of the public, if the criminals had succeeded.
“The Nigerian Army, therefore appeals to all law abiding citizens to continue to support the troops and other security agencies with credible and actionable information, as they combat security challenges across the country.”
He noted that the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja commended the troops for their commitment and urged them not to relent as they strive in synergy with other services and security agencies to provide safe and secure atmosphere for all Nigerians and socio economic development across the country.