By Miriam Humbe
Troops of 82 Division/Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA (OPUK), compelled members of a militant group to voluntarily surrender arms, while separate intelligence-led operations resulted in the recovery of additional weapons and an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
This feat marks another significant operational breakthrough recorded by the Nigerian Army’s sustained offensive operations in the South East.
The latest successes further underscore the effectiveness of the Nigerian Army’s integrated kinetic and non-kinetic approach in dismantling criminal networks and restoring lasting peace and security across the region.
The breakthrough followed sustained operational pressure mounted by troops of 34 Artillery Brigade and the recent arrest of suspects linked to the killing of a soldier.
Unable to withstand the relentless military offensive, members of a militant group operating within Egbema and its environs voluntarily began surrendering their weapons.
One of the suspects who disclosed the location where the group’s weapons had been concealed and hidden, led security team to exhume the site.
Items recovered include one AK-47 rifle, two AK-47 magazines, 54 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammunition and four locally fabricated firearms.
In a related development, troops of Sector 5 OPUK, acting on credible intelligence, conducted a follow-up operation that led to the successful recovery of two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), 45 rounds of 7.62 mm x 51 ammunition and one Improvised Explosive Device (IED), further denying criminal elements the capability to threaten public safety and security in the region.
The Nigerian Army assessed the voluntary surrender of arms as clear evidence that sustained operational pressure, reinforced by strategic engagement initiatives and collaboration with other security agencies, is yielding tangible results by compelling criminal elements to abandon violence and renounce their criminal activities.
The Army remains resolute in sustaining the current operational momentum until all criminal networks are dismantled and enduring peace and stability are fully restored across the South East.
The Nigerian Army reiterates its unwavering commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty and protecting the lives and property of all citizens through intelligence-driven operations conducted in close collaboration with other security agencies and critical stakeholders.
The Nigerian Army also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, as public support remains indispensable to sustaining operational successes and strengthening national security.
