Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have announced the arrest of 18 serving soldiers and 15 police officers for allegedly selling arms to terrorists and other criminal elements.
According to Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, the Theatre Commander of OPHK, speaking through his Staff Officer, Administration, Major Ademola Owolana, Operation Snowball has recorded significant successes.
Operation Snowball, launched in August 2024, aimed to target ammunition racketeering in the theatre.
The exercise was conducted across 11 states, including Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, Enugu, Lagos, Plateau, Kaduna, Rivers, Taraba, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Major Owolana revealed that eight civilians and one traditional ruler were also arrested in connection with the illicit arms trade ¹.
Some of the arrested individuals include, Ameh Raphael, an armourer of the 7th Division Garrison, who allegedly engaged in arms racketeering since 2018 and had N45 million in his bank account, Seidi Adamu of the 3rd division ordinance services, who has been involved in the trade since 2022 and had N34 million in his bank account.
Enoch Ngwa, a police inspector arrested for arms racketeering, with investigations revealing N135 million passed through his bank account.
The arrests demonstrate the resolve of OPHK to sanitise the security forces and cut off the supply lines that empower terrorists and criminals.
Authorities have assured the public that further arrests and prosecutions will follow as investigations continue.
