Troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade operating under Operation UDOKA have arrested key members of a suspected criminal syndicate linked to the deadly ambush of Nigerian Army personnel in May 2026, and recovered stolen military weapons during coordinated operations in Delta and Rivers states.
The operation was conducted under the ongoing Operation EASTERN SANITY II following months of intelligence-led efforts to track down those responsible for the May 4, 2026 ambush, which claimed the life of a soldier and left another wounded.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division Nigerian Army, Lt. Col. Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, troops launched sustained intelligence-driven raids after the attack to apprehend the perpetrators and recover weapons stolen from the slain and injured soldiers.
The breakthrough came in the early hours of July 31, when troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade, in collaboration with personnel of the 181 Battalion under the 63 Brigade, carried out coordinated raids at Opaebe and Oleh in Delta State.
During the operation, three suspects identified by their aliases as Chiboy, Marathon and Onowu were arrested.
The military said the suspects had fled to Oleh after the ambush on troops.
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Following their arrest, the suspects reportedly led troops to their hideouts at Aggah Plantation, Ekpeaggah in Rivers State, and Umudike Plantation, where the stolen military weapons and other arms were concealed.
Troops recovered two service weapons stolen during the ambush, comprising one AK-47 rifle with two magazines and one FN rifle with two magazines.
Additional recoveries included three AK-47 rifles with nine magazines, pistols with magazines, 194 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and 45 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.
The operation also led to the recovery of military uniforms and protective equipment, including camouflage shirts, trousers, jungle hats and a fragment protection jacket.
Other items recovered include an empty military first aid box and five mobile phones believed to be linked to the syndicate’s criminal activities.
The suspects are currently in military custody and will be prosecuted upon the conclusion of investigations, the Army said.
The Headquarters, Joint Task Force South-East, Operation UDOKA, commended the professionalism, resilience and inter-agency collaboration displayed by the troops during the operation.
The military described the successful operation as a significant step in dismantling criminal networks operating in the South-East and South-South regions, reaffirming its commitment to sustaining ongoing security operations and protecting lives and property across the region.