The personnel of Operation Hadin Kai have detained 18 serving soldiers and 15 policemen for allegedly supplying arms to non-state actors.
Major Ademola Owolana, Staff Officer Grade Two of OPHK, provided this information while briefing defence journalists on the activities of the Joint Task Force in North-East Nigeria from 2024 to 2025 in Maiduguri.
He indicated that notable successes were achieved under Operation Snowball, which was initiated in August 2024 to combat the illicit trade in ammunition within the region.
Major Owolana reported that operations were conducted across 11 states, with suspects arrested in Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, Enugu, Lagos, Plateau, Kaduna, Rivers, Taraba, and the Federal Capital Territory.
“To date, we have arrested a total of 18 soldiers, 15 mobile policemen, and 8 civilians, including a traditional ruler.
“Preliminary findings from the ongoing investigation indicate that community pressure on security personnel to supply arms and ammunition for local disputes is a primary driving force,” he noted.
He stressed that the “profitable nature of the arms trade is also a significant factor in its persistence”.
Major Owolana highlighted that Sergeant Ameh Raphael, an armourer from the 7th Division Garrison, has been involved in the trade since 2018, while Sergeant Seidi Adamu from the 3rd Division Ordnance Services has been active since 2022, with over £45 million and £34 million respectively in their accounts.
He also revealed that an astounding £135 million was traced to the account of a policeman, Inspector Enoch Ngwa, who was arrested for involvement in arms trafficking.
“To this end, we require stricter penalties to act as a deterrent,” he added.
Additionally, he remarked that the theatre has made significant headway in addressing the logistics networks supporting terrorists.
“From January 2025 to the present date, we have apprehended over 186 logistics suppliers, spies, and collaborators throughout the operational theatre,” he stated.
He further expressed concern regarding the widespread availability of drugs and narcotics, which enhance the operational capabilities of terrorist groups.
To counter this emerging threat, the Joint Intelligence Mission Centre, military intelligence, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intensified efforts to dismantle these networks.
“However, a lack of tracking devices continues to hinder the effective apprehension of logistics suppliers,” he noted.
Owolana also raised concerns about the involvement of some non-governmental organisations, which he accused of delivering food items and additives to terrorist locations under the pretext of humanitarian assistance.
He lamented the activities of fifth columnists that undermine the overall success of Operation Hadin Kai.
“Moreover, a number of soldiers, driven by greed, have engaged in ammunition trafficking, deliberately diverting arms from military stockpiles and supply chains to terrorist groups. Such actions diminish battlefield morale, impair troop effectiveness, and strengthen enemy resistance.
“The most recent incident occurred on 24th February this year when a soldier from the 144 Battalion was apprehended with 30 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition at Tashin-Karo Kano during a military police K-19 route search operation.
“As a consequence, the theatre has continually warned troops at all levels about the severe repercussions and penalties associated with ammunition trafficking. Those found guilty have been dismissed and handed over to the police to serve as a deterrent,” he asserted.
In discussing the theatre’s achievements, Owolana recounted that in May 2024, terrorists issued a vacation order, causing a mass exodus of civilians from Kukawa town.
However, Operation Hadin Kai subsequently issued an operational order for stabilisation, mobilising seven excavators and constructing watchtowers, surveillance masts, and barricades.
He reported that this operation successfully facilitated the return of over 10,000 locals to their ancestral homes.
According to Owolana, troops from Operation Hadin Kai have eliminated 694 terrorists and recovered 603 assault weapons, 56 RPG bombs, 16 mortar bombs, 147,137 units of anti-aircraft weapons, and 16 pick-up vehicles, among other items.
He further stated that the Joint Task Force has recorded over 12 drone incidents since 2004.
In response, the Nigerian Army established the Nigerian Army’s Unmanned Aerial Base Command in 2022, which has continued to provide essential support for ongoing operations across the theatre.
“The command has conducted 1,138 intelligence surveillance reconnaissance missions, amounting to a total of 10,033 flight hours,” he concluded.
