Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have apprehended 18 serving soldiers and 15 police officers accused of supplying arms to terrorists and criminal groups.
Speaking to journalists in Maiduguri on recent operations in the North-East, the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar—represented by Major Ademola Owolana, Staff Officer, Administration—disclosed that the arrests were part of Operation Snowball, a targeted mission launched in August 2024 to curb ammunition racketeering in the region.
Major Owolana noted that the operation spanned 11 states, leading to arrests in Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, Enugu, Lagos, Plateau, Kaduna, Rivers, Taraba, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Among those apprehended were eight civilians and a traditional ruler. Notably, one Ameh Raphael, identified as the armourer of the 7th Division Garrison, has reportedly been involved in the illegal trade since 2018 and had N45 million in his bank account.
Another suspect, Seidi Adamu from the 3rd Division Ordnance Services, has allegedly been engaged in the arms business since 2022, with N34 million traced to his account.
Additionally, the investigation uncovered that N135 million had passed through the account of Inspector Enoch Ngwa, a police officer arrested in connection with the racket.