In a significant breakthrough, the Nigerian Navy has apprehended a suspect in Eleme-Ifoko Community, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, following the discovery of a cache of weapons.
The arrest, which occurred on Wednesday, underscores the Navy’s ongoing efforts to tackle illegal arms possession in the volatile Niger Delta region.
The suspect was found with a considerable array of weapons, including one AK-47 rifle, three magazines, thirty-six rounds of 7.62mm x 39mm ammunition, three smoke grenade launchers, and a locally made rifle.
This seizure is the result of a well-coordinated operation carried out by the Forward Operating Base BONNY, which acted on credible intelligence to intercept the illegal arms.
The Navy confirmed the arrest in a statement on its official Facebook page, saying, “On Wednesday 23 October 2024, Forward Operating Base BONNY, acting on credible intelligence, discovered and apprehended a suspect in possession of one AK-47 rifle, three AK-47 magazines, thirty-six rounds of 7.62mm x 39mm ammunition, three smoke grenade launchers, and one locally made rifle in Eleme-Ifoko Community, Degema LGA, Rivers State. The suspect is currently in custody undergoing investigation.”
This latest operation forms part of the Navy’s broader mandate to rid the Niger Delta of illegal arms and prevent criminal activities in the region. The area has long struggled with security challenges ranging from militancy to illegal oil bunkering, and the Navy has ramped up its efforts to ensure peace and stability.
By seizing such a dangerous assortment of arms, the Navy is sending a strong message that illegal weapons will not be tolerated.
The suspect is currently in custody, undergoing investigation as authorities work to trace the source of the weapons and any potential networks involved.
The Nigerian Navy has reiterated its resolve to continue these operations, assuring the public that more efforts are being made to dismantle criminal operations in Degema LGA and the Niger Delta as a whole.