By Olatunbosun Obafemi
No fewer than 33 security personnel—including 18 soldiers and 15 police officers—have been arrested for allegedly supplying arms to terrorists and criminal gangs operating across Nigeria, the military has confirmed.
The arrests followed an intelligence-driven crackdown under Operation Snowball, a special mission launched by the Nigerian Army in August 2024 to target ammunition racketeering within the North-East theatre of operations.
Speaking at a press briefing in Maiduguri, the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar—represented by the Staff Officer, Administration, Major Ademola Owolana—said the suspects were arrested in coordinated operations spanning 11 states, including Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, Enugu, Lagos, Plateau, Kaduna, Rivers, Taraba, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Among those arrested is Ameh Raphael, an armourer with the 7th Division Garrison, who has allegedly been involved in arms dealings since 2018. Military investigators revealed he had over N45 million in his bank account, believed to be proceeds from the illicit trade.
Another key suspect, Seidi Adamu of the 3rd Division Ordnance Services, reportedly began trafficking weapons in 2022 and had N34 million traced to his account.
The dragnet also caught Inspector Enoch Ngwa of the Nigeria Police Force, whose bank records showed that N135 million had passed through his account in connection with arms sales.
In addition to the uniformed personnel, eight civilians and a traditional ruler were arrested in connection with the illegal network.
Major Owolana described the operation as a significant blow to internal supply chains that have long undermined Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and banditry.
“The arrests send a strong message that the military is serious about rooting out internal sabotage,” he said.
The suspects are currently undergoing further investigation and are expected to face prosecution.
