Nigerian troops bust syndicate supplying weapons to Cameroonian Ambazonian Separatists

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Troops of Nigerian Army in collaboration with DSS operatives have arrested a Cameroonian arms smuggling kingpin, Raphael, aka Biajua, alleged to be coordinating supply of arms and ammunition to Ambazonian Separatists in the Republic of Cameroon.

He was arrested at Biajua community in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State last Thursday.

Director of Nigerian Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, announced the arrest in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.

He said the operation followed credible intelligence revealing the illicit activities of the gun runners in Obudu and Biaju general areas.

He said the leader of the gun running syndicate was nabbed in the sting operation, alongside his accomplices comprising two Nigerians and two Cameroonians.

Nwachukwu said the preliminary investigations had revealed that the accomplices purchased firearms, which they in turn sell to a middle man, who supplies the arms and ammunition to Ambazonian Separatists in the Republic of Cameroon.

He added that a subsequent operation conducted on Thursday, led to the arrest of the kingpin, Raphael at Biajua community of Cross River State.

According to him, the troops also recovered four Semi Automatic Pump Action Rifles and four mobile phones from members of the syndicate.

Nwachukwu added in the statement that troops of 82 Division, Nigerian Army and other security agencies raided hideouts of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN), at Imufu in Igbo-Eze North, Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Nwachukwu said the troops operating under the auspices of Operation UDO KA II, in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies, subdued the group with superior firepower, neutralising two fighters.

He said the troops also recovered three Semi Automatic Pump Action Rifles and a locally-fabricated single barrel gun during the encounter.

He added that the troops, in conjunction with DSS, apprehended a notorious ESN Commander, Mr Ezege, in a separate sting operation at Obinagu in Udi Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, the arrested ESN commander, recently threatened to unleash mayhem in Enugu state via his viral video and audio message circulated on some social media platforms .

He said the suspect is currently in custody for further investigations.

“The Nigerian Army enjoins the general public to remain vigilant and report any untoward activity to the security agencies, in support of ongoing operations to curb security challenges.

“The good and enterprising people of South East Nigeria are also encouraged to discountenance the illegal sit-at-home order and go about their daily activities and businesses without fear of intimidation, as ongoing operations will be sustained to counter the enforcement of the unlawful order,” he said.

(NAN)