South-East Militants Surrender Arms as Army Recovers Weapons, Explosives

The Nigerian Army says sustained military operations in the South-East have compelled members of a militant group to surrender their weapons, while separate intelligence-led operations led to the recovery of additional arms and an improvised explosive device (IED). The Army described the development as another major breakthrough in its ongoing Operation UDO KA aimed at restoring peace and dismantling criminal networks across the region.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Army said the successes were recorded by troops of the 82 Division/Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA. It explained that sustained pressure mounted by troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade, alongside the recent arrest of suspects linked to the killing of a soldier, forced members of a militant group operating around Egbema and neighbouring communities to voluntarily surrender their weapons.

According to the statement, one of the surrendered suspects led security operatives to a hideout where the group's weapons had been concealed. Troops subsequently recovered one AK-47 rifle, two AK-47 magazines, 54 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and four locally fabricated firearms from the location.

The Army added that troops of Sector 5 of Operation UDO KA, acting on credible intelligence, also conducted a follow-up operation that resulted in the recovery of two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), 45 rounds of 7.62mm x 51 ammunition and one improvised explosive device. It said the operation further denied criminal elements the capacity to threaten public safety and security in the region.

The military described the voluntary surrender of arms as evidence that its combined kinetic and non-kinetic strategy, reinforced by collaboration with other security agencies, is yielding tangible results. It reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations until criminal networks are dismantled and lasting peace is restored across the South-East, while urging members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to support security efforts.