Major Ademola Owolana, Staff Officer Grade II of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), has revealed a disturbing network of arms and ammunition sales to terrorists and other non-state actors, leading to the arrest of 33 security personnel. This figure includes 18 soldiers and 15 policemen, whose illicit activities were uncovered through "Operation Snowball," a focused crackdown on arms racketeering initiated in August 2024 as part of OPHK's broader counter-terrorism efforts in the Northeast.
Major Owolana shared these details during a briefing with Defence correspondents in Maiduguri, outlining the Joint Task Force North-East's operations between 2024 and 2025. The extensive operation spanned 11 states across Nigeria, with arrests made in Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, Enugu, Lagos, Plateau, Kaduna, Rivers, Taraba, and the Federal Capital Territory.
Among those apprehended were two long-term military arms traffickers: Sgt. Ameh Raphael and Sgt. Seidi Adamu, who reportedly held N45 million and N34 million respectively in their accounts. A police officer, Inspector Enoch Ngwa, was also implicated with N135 million linked to arms deals. Investigations into these cases suggest that some officers were coerced by their communities, while others were driven by the significant financial gains from arms trafficking. The arrests also extended to eight civilians, including a traditional ruler, all connected to this illegal trade.
The Joint Task Force has called for more stringent punitive measures to deter such future infractions. A recent example highlighted was a soldier from the 144 Battalion caught in February 2025 with 30 rounds of ammunition during a routine search.
Beyond arms trafficking, authorities have been battling other forms of collaboration with insurgents. From January to May 2025, over 186 collaborators, including logistics suppliers and spies, were arrested for aiding terrorist activities. The fight against drug networks supporting insurgent operations is also ongoing, with collaboration efforts underway with the NDLEA and military intelligence units, though challenges persist due to a lack of tracking equipment. Concerns have also been raised regarding certain NGOs allegedly smuggling supplies to terrorist hideouts under the guise of humanitarian aid, and reports of rogue insiders diverting military resources, which critically undermines troop morale and effectiveness.
Despite these significant challenges, Operation Hadin Kai has achieved notable successes. In May 2024, more than 10,000 displaced civilians safely returned to Kukawa town following stabilization efforts. Between 2024 and 2025, the military neutralized 694 terrorists and confiscated hundreds of weapons and vehicles. To enhance surveillance capabilities, the Army’s Unmanned Aerial Base Command has successfully executed over 1,100 drone missions, accumulating more than 10,000 flight hours in support of ongoing counter-terrorism operations.
