Crime

Military Arrests 33 Security Personnel Over Alleged Illegal Arms Dealings

Published by Tope Fakinlede on May 30th, 2025.

Military Arrests 33 Security Personnel Over Alleged Illegal Arms Dealings

The Nigerian military has apprehended 18 soldiers and 15 police officers in connection with a widespread illegal arms trafficking network. The arrests were made during a coordinated crackdown across 11 states as part of Operation Snowball, a campaign launched in August 2024 to curb illicit arms dealings in the North-East.

Speaking in Maiduguri, the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar—represented by Major Ademola Owolana, Staff Officer in charge of Administration—highlighted the progress made under the operation. Suspects were detained in states including Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, Enugu, Lagos, Plateau, Kaduna, Rivers, Taraba, and the Federal Capital Territory.

Among those arrested were eight civilians and a traditional ruler. Notably, one of the prime suspects, Ameh Raphael, an armourer with the 7th Division Garrison, had reportedly been involved in illegal arms distribution since 2018 and was found with N45 million in his bank account. Another suspect, Seidi Adamu from the 3rd Division Ordinance Services, allegedly began his involvement in 2022 and had N34 million traced to his account.

Investigations also uncovered that a police inspector, Enoch Ngwa, had N135 million pass through his account, raising suspicions of deep-rooted involvement in arms trafficking.