Troops of the Nigerian Army under the 82 Division/Joint Task Force South-East, Operation UDO KA, have recorded another operational breakthrough as sustained military pressure forced members of a militant group to surrender their weapons, while separate intelligence-led operations led to the recovery of additional arms and an improvised explosive device (IED).
The Army said the development highlights the effectiveness of its ongoing offensive operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks and restoring peace across the South-East.
According to a statement by the military on Sunday, the breakthrough followed sustained operations by troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade and the recent arrest of suspects linked to the killing of a soldier.
The military said unable to withstand the sustained offensive, members of a militant group operating in Egbema and surrounding communities reportedly began voluntarily surrendering their weapons.
One of the suspects subsequently led security personnel to a hideout where the group’s arms had been buried.
Items recovered from the cache include one AK-47 rifle, two AK-47 magazines, 54 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and four locally fabricated firearms.
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In a separate operation, troops of Sector 5, Operation UDO KA, acting on credible intelligence, recovered two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), 45 rounds of 7.62mm x 51 ammunition and one improvised explosive device.
The military said the recovery further weakened the operational capability of criminal elements and denied them the means to threaten lives and property in the region.
The Army described the voluntary surrender of weapons as evidence that sustained military pressure, combined with strategic community engagement and collaboration with other security agencies, is compelling criminal elements to abandon violence and renounce their activities.
The military reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the momentum of ongoing operations until all criminal networks operating in the South-East are dismantled.
The Nigerian Army also appealed to members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing that public support remains critical to sustaining operational successes and enhancing security across the region.