Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have arrested 18 serving soldiers and 15 police officers for allegedly engaging in illegal arms trading with terrorists and other criminal groups, the military has announced.
The arrests followed a covert operation tagged Operation Snowball, which began in August 2024 to dismantle networks of ammunition racketeers operating within and outside the theatre of operations in the North-East.
Briefing journalists in Maiduguri on Wednesday, the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, represented by Major Ademola Owolana, said the operation was carried out across 11 states including Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, Enugu, Lagos, Plateau, Kaduna, Rivers, Taraba, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Major Owolana disclosed that in addition to the security personnel, eight civilians and one traditional ruler were also arrested in connection with the illicit trade.
One of the key suspects, Ameh Raphael, identified as an armourer with the 7th Division Garrison, was alleged to have been involved in the arms racket since 2018. According to military intelligence, N45 million was found in his personal bank account.
Another suspect, Seidi Adamu of the 3rd Division Ordnance Services, had reportedly been in the illegal trade since 2022. Investigators uncovered N34 million in his account.
The military further revealed that a police inspector, Enoch Ngwa, had N135 million passed through his bank account, believed to be proceeds from illegal arms transactions.
“This operation represents a significant breakthrough in our effort to rid the armed forces and security services of corrupt elements aiding terrorism and criminality,” Owolana said.
He emphasized that all suspects are undergoing further investigation and will be handed over to appropriate authorities for prosecution upon conclusion of the military’s internal procedures.
Operation Hadin Kai has been actively combating insurgency in the North-East and has launched several initiatives aimed at addressing not only battlefield threats but also internal sabotage and corruption.
The arrests have sparked concern over the depth of infiltration by criminal elements within Nigeria’s security architecture and the implications for national security.
