The troops of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested 18 serving soldiers, 15 Policemen for allegedly selling arms to non-state actors and criminal networks across Nigeria.
This was disclosed by the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, represented by Major Ademola Owolana, Staff Officer for Administration.
He said the arrests were part of Operation Snowball—an initiative launched in August 2024 aimed at crushing arms-trafficking syndicates within the security forces.
Major Owolana said that the operation was carried out in 11 states, including Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, Enugu, Lagos, Plateau, Kaduna, Rivers, Taraba, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He stated: “Eight civilians and one traditional ruler were also arrested including one Ameh Raphael, an armourer of the 7th Division Garrison, who has been engaging in the act since 2018 and had N45 million in his bank account.”
Further revealing the scale of the operation, Owolana added that another suspect: “Seidi Adamu of the 3rd division ordinance services, who has also been in the trade since 2022, had N34 million in his bank account.”
Investigations also traced N135 million through the account of Inspector Enoch Ngwa, a police officer taken into custody in connection with the illegal arms trade.
The military says the crackdown underscores its commitment to rooting out internal saboteurs aiding insecurity in the region.
