Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested 18 serving soldiers and 15 mobile policemen for allegedly selling arms and ammunition to non-state actors, including terrorists.
The Staff Officer Grade Two, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Major Ademola Owolana, made this known while briefing Defence Correspondents in Maiduguri on the activities of the Joint Task Force North-East operation from 2024 to 2025.
He revealed that the arrests were part of the successes recorded under Operation Snowball, which was launched in August 2024 to tackle ammunition racketeering within the theatre of operations.
According to Owolana, the operation has been conducted across 11 states—Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, Enugu, Lagos, Plateau, Kaduna, Rivers, Taraba, and the Federal Capital Territory.
“So far, a total of 18 soldiers, 15 mobile policemen, and 8 civilians, including a traditional ruler have been arrested,” he said.
He noted that investigations point to multiple driving factors behind the illicit trade.
“Preliminary findings from ongoing investigation reveals community pressure on serving security personnel to supply arms and ammunition for communal conflicts as driving factors,” he stated.
“The lucrative nature of trading in ammunition is also a driving factor for its persistence,” he added.
Major Owolana disclosed that some of those arrested had amassed large sums from the illegal business. He said one Sgt. Ameh Raphael, an armourer of the 7th Division Garrison involved in the trade since 2018, had over ₦45 million in his account. Similarly, Sgt. Seidi Adamu of 3rd Division Ordnance Services, who joined the trade in 2022, had over ₦34 million.
He also revealed that ₦135 million was traced to the account of a policeman, Insp. Enoch Ngwa, who was arrested for arms racketeering.
“To this end, a more stringent punishment is necessary to act as deterrent,” he emphasized.
Speaking further, Major Owolana highlighted progress in disrupting terrorist logistics and collaborator networks.
“From January 2025 to date, over 186 terrorist logistics suppliers, spies, and collaborators have been arrested across the theatre of operation,” he said.
He expressed concern over the growing role of narcotics in enhancing terrorist capabilities and noted efforts to counteract the threat.
“To counter this threat, the Joint Intelligence Mission Centre, military intelligence base, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intensified efforts to disrupt these networks,” he stated.
However, he lamented that the lack of tracking devices continues to hinder the arrest of logistics suppliers.
Owolana also condemned the involvement of certain NGOs in allegedly supplying terrorists under the guise of humanitarian assistance.
He further warned about the impact of fifth columnists on the operation.
“Additionally, a few soldiers motivated by greed are involved in ammunitions racketeering, deliberately diverting arms from the military stockpiles and supply chains to terrorists. Such actions erode battlefield morale, reduce troops’ effectiveness, and strengthen enemy resistance,” he said.
He cited a recent case involving a soldier from the 144 Battalion who was caught with 30 rounds of 7.62mm specials at Tashin-Karo, Kano, during a military police route search on February 24, 2025.
“Consequently, the theatre has continued to warn troops at all levels on the severe repercussions and sanctions of ammunition racketeering.”
“Those found culpable have been dismissed and handed over to the police to serve as deterrent,” Owolana affirmed.
Highlighting other achievements, he noted that in May 2024, terrorists issued a vacation order that led to a mass exodus from Kukawa town. However, Operation Hadin Kai responded with a stabilisation operation.
The operation included the deployment of seven excavators, construction of watch towers, surveillance masts, and barricades, resulting in the safe return of over 10,000 displaced persons to their ancestral homes.
Owolana also reported that troops of Operation Hadin Kai had killed 694 terrorists, recovered 603 assault weapons, 56 RPG bombs, 16 mortar bombs, 147,137 units of anti-aircraft weapons, and 16 pick-up vehicles, among others.
He noted that the theatre has recorded over 12 drone-related incidents since 2004.
To enhance surveillance and counter threats, he said the Nigerian Army established the Unmanned Aerial Base Command in 2022.
“The command has carried out 1,138 intelligence surveillance reconnaissance missions, covering a total time of 10,033 flight hours,” he disclosed.
