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Controversy As Army, Police Parade ‘Same Bua Cement Truck’ For Smuggled Load Of Ammunition, Hijacked Cement En Route Anambra
Controversy has surrounded the arrest of a Bua Cement company’s truck being paraded by the military for allegedly conveying illegal ammunition as same truck was also paraded for hijacked cement en route Anambra state.
BIGPEN NIGERIA (www.bigpenngr.com) reports that the military disclosed that the truck with Registration number ENU 697 XY, was impounded by troops of 192 Battalion Nigerian Army (NA) operating in 81 Division Area of Responsibility, on Saturday 15 July 2023, with load of smuggled ammunition to Anambra State.
The army, in its statement said that the truck was loaded with 720 packets of Red Star Cartridges of 12 Calibre, containing 25 cartridges per packet, totalling 18, 000 cartridges and an additional 250 packets of live (black) cartridges containing 10 packets each, totalling 2500 cartridges of same calibre.
Troops searching smuggled ammunition en route to Anambra
While the police in a statement, said that the same truck in this report was hijacked at gunpoint by yet unidentified persons on Friday July 14, 2023 at Obiliokite in Delta state.
Anambra state Police Command spokesman, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, in a statement said that Police operatives attached to Area Command Headquarters, Ihiala, working with operatives of Anambra state Vigilante in Okija on Saturday 15 July 2023 recovered one Howo trailer with Reg. No. Delta AKU 247 CB conveying 1000 bags of Bua Cement.
Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said that the troop busted the alleged international ammunition smuggling syndicate while transporting a truck en route Anambra.
He disclosed that the troops, who acted on actionable Intelligence conducted a meticulous and rigorous Stop and Search operation along Ajilete-Owode Road in Yewa North LGA of Ogun State and uncovered the illegal ammunition in a truck with Registration number ENU 697 XY,
The suspects, identified as Mr. Eric Seworvor, a Ghanaian national, and the driver, Mr Lukman Sani, have been taken into custody and are helping with ongoing investigations.
“Information gathered during preliminary investigation revealed that the ammunition, which were surreptitiously concealed in a supposed empty truck were imported from Mali, via Idiroko International Border, where the criminals had successfully beaten several other checkpoints en-route their final destination in Onitsha, Anambra State, where they intended to deliver the illegal ammunition.
“Timely intervention by the vigilant troops however thwarted the chaos that such volume of ammunition would have unleashed on innocent members of the public, if the criminals had succeeded, Nwachukwu said in the statement.
The Nigerian Army therefore appeals to all law abiding citizens to continue to support the troops and other security agencies with credible and actionable information, as they combat security challenges across the country.
The Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja has commended the troops for their commitment and urged them not to relent as they strive in synergy with other services and security agencies to provide safe and secure atmosphere for all Nigerians and socio economic development across the country.
Anambra Police Recover Hijacked Truck Load of Cement by Unknown Gunmen
…CP Adeoye orders a manhunt for the hijackers
Anambra police spokesman, Ikenga Tochukwu, said that; “Police Operatives attached to Area Command Headquarters, Ihiala, working with operatives of Anambra State Vigilante in Okija, on 15/7/2023 recovered One HOWO trailer with Reg. No. Delta AKU 247 XB conveying 1000 bags of Bua cement.
“Information revealed that the truck was hijacked at gunpoint by yet unidentified persons on 14/07/2023 at Obiliokite in Delta State.
“The armed criminals on sighting the joint patrol comprising of the Police and Vigilantes along the Onitsha-Owerri expressway pulled off the road at Okija, abandoned the truck, and fled.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye has ordered a manhunt for the gunmen. He called on locals within the area to help with any useful information that will help in apprehending the fleeing suspects. He assures that any information given in this regard shall be treated with the confidentiality it deserves.
“Members of the public who have useful information on criminals and/or their activities are encouraged to call the Control room number 07039194332. Also, the recovered consignment has been released to the rightful owner on the Instruction of the Commissioner of Police”, the statement added.