Army raids criminal hideout in Rivers, recovers arms

Troops of Sector 4, Joint Task Force South-East, Operation UDO KA, conducted an intelligence-led raid on a suspected criminal hideout in Rivers State on July 23, 2026. The operation targeted a forest enclave at Awara Community Waterside in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area and along the Omoku–Ogbaku–Ndoni axis.

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Acting on credible intelligence, the troops raided the forest enclave believed to have been used by criminal elements as a staging base for planning kidnappings and launching attacks against security personnel and innocent citizens.

The Nigerian Army stated that the hideout was believed to be a base for criminal elements planning kidnappings and launching attacks against security personnel and civilians. This raid is part of the military's ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks and restore peace in the region.

During the operation, soldiers recovered one Lee-Enfield MK I rifle, one G3 rifle, 116 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, and 13 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. The Army emphasized that this is the fourth successful seizure of illegal arms and ammunition within the last two weeks, highlighting the effectiveness of their intelligence-driven operations.

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This latest recovery, the fourth successful seizure of illegal arms and ammunition by troops within the last two weeks, further demonstrates the effectiveness of intelligence-driven operations.

The military affirmed its commitment to continuing aggressive and intelligence-led operations in collaboration with other security agencies. They urged residents to provide timely and credible information to support these ongoing security efforts across the South-East and the entire country, aiming to deny criminal elements safe havens and bring them to justice.

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The Nigerian Army reiterates its unwavering commitment to sustaining aggressive and intelligence-led operations in collaboration with other security agencies until all criminal elements are denied safe havens and brought to justice.