Troops of the Nigerian Army made a significant breakthrough on Saturday by intercepting an international smuggling syndicate attempting to transport a truckload of smuggled ammunition to Anambra State, located in Nigeria’s southeastern region.
According to the Army spokesperson, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, the interception occurred during a meticulous and rigorous stop-and-search operation along the Ajilete-Owode Road in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State in the southwest. The operation was carried out based on a tip-off received by the troops.
The truck, bearing registration number ENU 697 XY, was found to be loaded with various types of ammunition. The seized ammunition included 720 packets of red star cartridges of 12 calibers, with each packet containing 25 cartridges, making a total of 18,000 cartridges. Additionally, the truck contained 250 packets of live black cartridges, each containing ten packets, totaling 2,500 cartridges of the same calibre.
Two suspects were apprehended in connection with the smuggling attempt. The suspects were identified as Eric Seworvor, a Ghanaian national, and Lukman Sani, the truck driver. They are currently assisting the military with their investigation.
During preliminary investigations, it was discovered that the ammunition was hidden in the empty truck and imported from Mali. The criminals managed to evade several checkpoints before being intercepted at the Idiroko International Border. Their final destination was Onitsha, Anambra State, where they intended to deliver the illegal ammunition.
Brigadier-General Nwachukwu stressed that the timely intervention of the troops prevented the syndicate from smuggling the illegal weapons into Anambra State. He pointed out that had the suspects succeeded, they could have posed a severe threat to the safety and security of the residents in the region.
The Army spokesperson expressed his gratitude to Nigerians for their continued support and urged them to provide information that would assist security agencies in addressing security challenges across the country.
The Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, also praised the dedication and commitment of the troops in securing the lives and properties of Nigerians, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between the security agencies and citizens in ensuring national security.
