18 soldiers, 15 police officers, monarch arrested for reportedly selling arms to terrorists

Troops deployed under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have apprehended 18 active-duty soldiers and 15 police officers on allegations of supplying weapons to terrorist groups and criminal networks across Nigeria.

Speaking to reporters in Maiduguri, the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, represented by Major Ademola Owolana, Staff Officer for Administration, said the arrests were part of Operation Snowball—an initiative launched in August 2024 aimed at dismantling arms-trafficking rings within the security forces.

According to Major Owolana, the operation was executed 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.