Nigerian Army troops intercept 300,000 live cartridges smuggled in from Benin Republic

SOLDIERS from the 35 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army have intercepted three trucks loaded with over 300,000 live cartridges used for pump action riffles in the Igbogila Balogun area of Owode Ibese in Ogun State.

Smuggled into the country through the Republic of Benin, the ammunition was concealed in an in-built compartment of the trucks.  However, no arrest has been made yet as the occupants of the trucks with plate numbers AAA 409 ZV, BDG 782 XU and GGE 88 XU, fled when the vehicles were stopped for a search.

Briefing newsmen on the arrest, the general officer commanding the 81st Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Iniobong Udoh , explained that the feat was achieved following calls received by members of the public. He disclosed that the ammunition were suspected to have been brought from the Republic of Benin but could not state the destination they were being taken to

Major General Udoh said: "Following calls received from well-meaning Nigerians, our patrol teams in anti-smuggling and anti-pipeline vandalisation, on May 30, at about 2.58 am, in conjunction with the police, State Security Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other well-meaning Nigerians, intercepted the trucks loaded with cartridges at Balogun village, at Agbogila road, Ilara. The cartridges were contained in boxes concealed in a way that it will be difficult for any usual patrol or checkpoint to discover.

"When our troops stopped them for stop and search, the occupants took to their heels . We pursued them but didn’t get any of them but troops are still on their trail.”

He added that the packs containing the cartridges read Diana 32 Hunting Selection. Appreciating members of the public for availing the Nigerian Army with the information which he described as swift, Major General Udoh, stated that the army would continue the fight against criminality in order to rid the nation of bad elements.