According to Leadership News, the Staff Officer Grade II, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Major Ademola Owolana, has disclosed that total of 33 security personnel—18 soldiers and 15 policemen—have been arrested for selling arms and ammunition to terrorists and other non-state actors.
Major Owolana made the disclosure while briefing Defence correspondents on the activities of the Joint Tax Force North-East operation from 2024 to 2025 in Maiduguri.
According to him, the arrests were made under Operation Snowball, a targeted crackdown on arms racketeering launched in August 2024 as part of Operation Hadin Kai’s efforts in the Northeast. The operation spanned 11 states, with arrests recorded in Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, Enugu, Lagos, Plateau, Kaduna, Rivers, Taraba, and the FCT.
Authorities said the suspects include two long-term arms traffickers within the military: Sgt. Ameh Raphael and Sgt. Seidi Adamu, who had N45 million and N34 million respectively in their accounts. A police officer, Inspector Enoch Ngwa, reportedly had N135 million linked to arms deals.
Investigations indicate that some officers acted under pressure from their communities, while others were motivated by the financial rewards of trafficking arms. Eight civilians, including a traditional ruler, have also been arrested in connection to the illegal trade.
The Joint Task Force has urged stronger punitive measures to deter future violations. In one recent case, a soldier from the 144 Battalion was caught in February 2025 with 30 rounds of ammunition during a routine search operation.
From January to May 2025, over 186 collaborators, including logistics suppliers and spies aiding terrorists, were arrested. Authorities are also battling drug networks that support insurgent activities. Collaboration with the NDLEA and military intelligence units is ongoing, although the lack of tracking equipment hinders operations.
Concerns have also been raised about some NGOs allegedly smuggling supplies to terrorist hideouts under the guise of humanitarian aid. In addition, some rogue insiders continue to divert military resources to enemy forces, undermining the troops’ morale and effectiveness.
Despite these challenges, Operation Hadin Kai has recorded key gains. In May 2024, over 10,000 displaced civilians returned to Kukawa town after a stabilisation effort. Between 2024 and 2025, the military killed 694 terrorists and seized hundreds of weapons and vehicles.
To bolster surveillance, the Army’s Unmanned Aerial Base Command has completed more than 1,100 drone missions, logging over 10,000 flight hours in support of ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.
Leave a Reply