Troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade under the Joint Task Force South East (Operation UDO KA) have arrested a suspected notorious armourer and logistics courier linked to attacks on oil facilities and security personnel, recovering a massive cache of weapons and ammunition during a major intelligence-led operation in Imo State.
The operation, carried out in the early hours of Tuesday, July 1, 2026, followed credible intelligence that led troops to conduct a coordinated search-and-raid mission along the Akpe Aggah–Egbema Forest axis. The suspect was apprehended at Obiakpu Forest.
Military authorities said preliminary investigations identified the suspect as the principal armourer and logistics coordinator for a criminal syndicate responsible for repeated attacks on oil installations and troops operating in the Ohaji–Egbema area.
During the raid, troops recovered a significant arsenal, including one AK-47 rifle, one M4A1 carbine, one M16A2 rifle, six rifle magazines, five pump-action guns, a locally fabricated pistol, and a large quantity of assorted ammunition.
The Nigerian Army described the seizure as a major setback for the criminal network, saying it had significantly disrupted the group’s operational capability and logistics supply chain.
The suspect is currently in military custody and is assisting investigators as security agencies intensify efforts to track down and dismantle the remaining members and collaborators of the syndicate.
Reaffirming its commitment to restoring peace and safeguarding critical national assets, the Nigerian Army vowed to sustain aggressive operations against criminal elements across the South-East.
The Army also urged members of the public to continue supporting security efforts by providing timely, credible and actionable intelligence through established security channels.
