The Nigerian Army (NA) has disclosed that troops of 192 Battalion operating in 81 Division Area of Responsibility have apprehended an international ammunition smuggling syndicate while transporting a truckload of smuggled ammunition en route to Anambra state. This was made known on Monday in a statement issued by the Director, Army Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu who stated that a Stop and Search operation took place on Saturday, July 15, 2023, along Ajilete-Owode Road in Yewa North Local Area in Ogun State, adding that the development was a result of actionable intelligence made available to the troops.
According to the statement, “The truck was loaded with 720 packets of Red Star cartridges of 12 caliber, containing 25 cartridges per packet, totaling 18,000 cartridges and an additional 250 packets of live (black) cartridges containing 10 packets each, totaling 2500 cartridges of the same caliber.
“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.”
The statement revealed that the smuggled ammunition was hidden in the truck; which appeared empty, adding that the illegal cargo had been transported from the Republic of Mali and entered Nigeria through Ogun State via the Idiroko international border, which is situated along the Nigeria-Republic of Benin border.
The statement also urged all law-abiding Nigerian citizens to continue assisting the Nigerian army and other security agencies by providing credible information, which is vital in the fight against security challenges in the country.