Army intercepts Anambra-bound truck with ammunition

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Army intercepts Anambra-bound truck with ammunition

The Nigerian Army has intercepted a truckload of ammunition en route to Anambra, The PUNCH has learnt.

The ammunition, according to the Army, was intercepted by troops of the 192 Battalion on Saturday, during a rigorous stop-and-search operation.

A statement on Monday by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, revealed that a total 18, 000 cartridges and an additional 250 packets of live (black) cartridges, containing 10 packets each, were intercepted.

“Troops of the 192 Battalion Nigerian Army operating in 81 Division Area of Responsibility busted an international ammunition smuggling syndicate while transporting a truckload of smuggled ammunition to Anambra State on Saturday, July 15, 2023.

“The troops, who acted on actionable intelligence, conducted a meticulous and rigorous stop-and-search operation along the Ajilete-Owode Road in the Yewa North Local Government Area 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 2,500 cartridges of the same calibre,” the statement read in part.

Nwachukwu said two suspects were arrested by the troops and taken into Army’s custody.

“The suspects, identified as Mr Eric Seworvor, a Ghanaian national, and the driver, Mr Lukman Sani, have been taken into custody and are helping with ongoing investigations,” he stated.

Speaking on the outcome of the preliminary investigation, Nwachukwu said, “Information gathered during preliminary investigation revealed that the ammunition, which was surreptitiously concealed in a supposed empty truck, was imported from Mali, via the Idiroko international border, where the criminals had successfully beaten several other checkpoints en route to 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 a volume of ammunition would have unleashed on innocent members of the public, if the criminals had succeeded. ‘’

He appealed to citizens to support the troops and other security agencies with credible information as they tackle security challenges across the country.