Troops of the Nigerian Army under Sector 4, Joint Task Force South-East, Operation UDO KA, have recovered a cache of arms and ammunition during an intelligence-led operation targeting a suspected criminal hideout in Rivers State.
The operation, carried out in the early hours of July 23, 2026, was part of the military’s ongoing offensive against criminal elements operating across the South-East.
According to a statement by the Nigerian Army and shared on its Facebook page on Friday, the troops raided a suspected criminal enclave at Awara Community Waterside in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area and along the Omoku–Ogbaku–Ndoni axis following credible intelligence that the location was being used as a staging base for kidnappings and attacks on security personnel and civilians.
During the operation, troops recovered one Lee-Enfield MK I rifle, one G3 rifle, 116 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition and 13 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
The military said clearance operations are continuing in the area to flush out any remaining criminal elements and dismantle their hideouts.
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The latest recovery marks the fourth successful seizure of illegal arms and ammunition by Operation UDO KA troops within the last two weeks, a development the Army attributed to sustained intelligence-driven operations and enhanced collaboration with other security agencies and members of the public.
The Army noted that the repeated recoveries demonstrate the increasing pressure being exerted on criminal networks, significantly weakening their operational capabilities and limiting their ability to carry out attacks against security forces and residents.
Reaffirming its commitment to restoring peace and stability in the South-East, the Nigerian Army said it would continue to sustain aggressive, intelligence-led operations aimed at denying criminal groups safe havens and bringing those responsible for violent crimes to justice.
The Army also urged members of the public to continue supporting security operations by providing timely and credible information, stressing that community cooperation remains essential to achieving lasting peace and security across the region.