Nigerian Troops Seize Truck Carrying 164,650 Live Cartridges In Anambra.
Security forces in Anambra State have dealt a significant blow to illegal arms trafficking, intercepting a truck laden with 164,650 live cartridges on 29 May 2025. The operation, conducted by troops of Sector 5 of Operation UDO KA, alongside operatives from the 63 Brigade and the Department of State Services (DSS), took place along the Asaba–Onitsha expressway, a key route in Nigeria’s southeast.
Acting on credible intelligence, the joint team halted the vehicle and apprehended a suspected arms courier, Mr Emeka Omenife, believed to be part of a transnational smuggling syndicate. According to security sources, the cartridges, concealed in four specially constructed compartments within the truck’s cargo bed, were allegedly destined for the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). The ammunition is suspected to have originated from Ghana, with Onitsha as its intended delivery point.
Upon interception, the truck was moved to Onitsha Cantonment, where a thorough search uncovered the staggering haul of 164,650 live cartridges. Mr Omenife was promptly handed over to the DSS for interrogation, during which he reportedly confessed to his role in the syndicate, which transports arms from Ghana into Nigeria to fuel separatist activities in the southeast. His admission led to the arrest of an accomplice, Uchenna Obiora, at the Onitsha–Awka tollgate on 30 May, as he awaited the illicit shipment.
Counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, cited by multiple sources, revealed that investigations are ongoing to dismantle the wider smuggling network and identify collaborators. Security officials also noted that Mr Omenife had a prior encounter with law enforcement, having been arrested on 22 January 2025 by troops and officials from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) at his residence in Onitsha Housing Estate. During that incident, he attempted to flee, sustaining a gunshot wound to the buttocks before receiving treatment at the 302 Army Regiment Medical Services and being transferred to the Anambra State Police Criminal Investigation Department in Akwuzu.
The Nigerian Army and DSS have vowed to continue their efforts to curb illegal arms trafficking, a persistent threat to stability in the region. This seizure marks a critical step in disrupting the flow of weapons to non-state actors, with authorities urging the public to report suspicious activities to aid ongoing operations.