The Nigerian Army has recovered weapons and ammunition during a raid on a suspected criminal hideout in Rivers State.
The intelligence-led operation was carried out by troops of Sector 4, Joint Task Force South-East, Operation UDO KA, on July 23, 2026.
The operation targeted a forest hideout at Awara Community Waterside in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area and along the Omoku-Ogbaku-Ndoni axis.
According to the Army, the hideout was used by criminal elements as a base for planning kidnappings and launching attacks on security personnel and residents.
In a statement on Friday, the Army said troops recovered “one Lee-Enfield MK I rifle, one G3 rifle, 116 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition and 13 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.”
It added that clearance operations were ongoing to flush out the remaining criminal elements in the area.
The Army said the recovery marked the fourth successful seizure of illegal arms and ammunition by its troops in the South-East in the past two weeks.
It attributed the success to intelligence-led operations and collaboration with other security agencies and members of the public, adding that the sustained offensive had continued to weaken criminal networks and reduce their capacity to threaten lives and property.
Reaffirming its commitment to restoring peace in the region, the Army said it would “sustain aggressive and intelligence-led operations in collaboration with other security agencies until all criminal elements are denied safe havens and brought to justice.”
The military also urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, saying public support remains vital to achieving lasting peace and security in the South-East.
