Security forces in Anambra State have achieved a major breakthrough by intercepting a truck carrying over 164,000 live cartridges and arresting a suspected arms supplier believed to be linked to separatist groups in the southeast. The operation, conducted on May 29, 2025, was the result of a joint effort by Sector 5 troops of Operation Udo Ka, operatives of the 63 Brigade, and the Department of State Services (DSS), acting on credible intelligence.
The main suspect, Emeka Omenife, was apprehended along the Asaba-Onitsha Expressway while reportedly en route to deliver the ammunition. Upon interception, the truck was moved to Onitsha Cantonment, where a thorough search revealed 164,650 live cartridges hidden in specially constructed compartments within the cargo bed. Omenife was immediately handed over to the DSS for interrogation.
During questioning, Omenife allegedly confessed to being part of a transnational arms smuggling syndicate that transports ammunition from Ghana into Nigeria, with the consignment reportedly destined for the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). His confession led to the arrest of an accomplice, Uchenna Obiora, on May 30 at the Onitsha-Awka tollgate, where he was awaiting delivery of the ammunition.
Security sources revealed that this is not Omenife’s first encounter with law enforcement. He was previously arrested on January 22, 2025, at his residence in Onitsha Housing Estate during a joint operation involving the military and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). At that time, he attempted to escape but was shot and later transferred to the Anambra State Police Criminal Investigation Department. His release and subsequent re-arrest have raised questions about the legal processes that followed his earlier detention.
Authorities believe the interception of this major arms shipment will disrupt the operational capacity of IPOB/ESN and help prevent further violence in the region. Investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the smuggling network. The Nigerian Army and DSS have reiterated their commitment to safeguarding national security and curbing the activities of secessionist and terrorist groups in the country.
