Onitsha Bullets
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Nigerian Army intercept truckload of ammunition from Mali destined for popular Onitsha market in restive south east region
Nigerian security officials are patting themselves on the back after they successfully intercepted a consignment of bullets after acting on a tip off.
According to a Nigerian Army statement issued in Abuja on Monday, the 12 caliber bullets for the military pump action shotgun that litters the tense south east region of Nigeria came all the way from Mali and was the work of an international crime syndicate.
“Troops of 192 Battalion Nigerian Army (NA) operating in 81 Division Area of Responsibility have busted an international ammunition smuggling syndicate, while transporting a truck load of smuggled ammunition to Anambra State on Saturday 15 July 2023.”
The truck carrying the ammunition was seized by troops in the south west region after crossing the Idi-Oroko land border with the army saying they acted on a tip off.
“The troops, who acted on actionable Intelligence conducted a meticulous and rigorous Stop and Search operation along Ajilete-Owode Road in Yewa North LGA of Ogun State and uncovered the illegal ammunition in a truck.” The statement read.
The truck was said to be loaded with “720 packets of Red Star Cartridges of 12 Calibre, containing 25 cartridges per packet, totalling 18, 000 cartridges and an additional 250 packets of live (black) cartridges containing 10 packets each, totalling 2500 cartridges of same calibre.”
Two male suspects identified as Eric Seworvor, a Ghanaian national, and the driver, Lukman Sani, nationality unknown have both been taken into custody and are undergoing rigorous interrogation by military intelligence officials.
During its preliminary investigation into the incident, the army said the ammunition shipment was imported from Mali which itself is fighting a decade old jihadist insurgency, by road and its destination was the Onitsha Main Market one of the continent’s largest markets.
Authorities are baffled on how they managed to slip through the various checkpoints and many observers point to corrupt security officials who take bribes to look the other way.
“Timely intervention by the vigilant troops however thwarted the chaos that such volume of ammunition would have unleashed on innocent members of the public, if the criminals had succeeded.” The statement stressed.
Separatist group the Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and the Biafran Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE) have both denied accusations that they were responsible for the importation of the ammunition.
Akowe with reports from Abuja
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