Nigerian Army discovers stockpile of weapons in Rivers

The Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt has uncovered arms cache linked to suspected political thugs, following a mop-up operation. Brig.-Gen. Koko Essien, Commander of 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, said this while parading six suspected political thugs before the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday.


 He said the operation was conducted in Ahoada-East, Ogbakiri community in Emohua and Buguma town in Asari-Toru Local Government Areas, respectively. “In continuation of operation to mop up arms and ammunitions in 2 Brigade’s area of responsibility, we conducted series of operations before and during the April 11 elections in Rivers.

 On April 10, we got information of stockpile of weapons at Samroyal Hotel in Ahoada-East and soldiers carried out a cordon-and-search operation on the hotel. Two suspects were arrested at the hotel with two pump action guns, 41 machetes, 55 cartridges and the sum of N300,000,”

 he said. Represented by the Brigade’s Commanding Officer, Intelligence Corps, Lt-Col. Bayo Lawal, Essien said on April 11 at Ogbakiri community in Emohua, soldiers arrested two suspected political thugs. He said the suspects intimidated the electorate and threatened to disrupt election in the area. “Subsequently, soldiers went after them and arrested two suspects with two AK 47 riffles, three AK 47 magazines and 41 rounds of 7.62mm special live ammunition,” he said.