Troops of the 22 Armoured Brigade, operating under Operation Park Strike V, have neutralised an arms courier and intercepted a cache of weapons in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State.
In a statement signed by , Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the Brigade, Captain Stephen Nwankwo said the operation took place on Thursday, September 25, 2025, following intelligence reports on the movement of illicit firearms from Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State. Acting on the tip-off, soldiers stationed at the Patrol Base in Bukungi mounted surveillance along the Share–Gbugbu axis, where they intercepted a Volkswagen Golf 3 vehicle, with registration number Bayelsa SAG-133 XA, at about 8:30 a.m.
He said the driver of the vehicle attempted to evade arrest but was swiftly neutralised by troops. A thorough search of the vehicle uncovered five AK-47 rifles and three magazines, concealed inside a charcoal sack to disguise the cache.
The recovery is seen as a major blow to arms trafficking networks believed to be fuelling banditry and other forms of violent crime across the North Central region. Edu LGA, which shares borders with Niger and Kogi states, is regarded as a critical corridor often exploited by criminal elements to move weapons southwards.
Military intelligence had tracked the courier’s movement from Kaduna, enabling the ambush that foiled the illegal delivery. Security analysts believe the interception will disrupt planned attacks by criminal groups operating in the area.
Commander of the 22 Armoured Brigade, Brigadier General Ezra Barkins, lauded the professionalism of the troops and urged them to sustain the tempo of operations against criminal elements.
“I commend the gallant troops for their resilience and quick response. This operation demonstrates our resolve to deny criminals freedom of action within our area of responsibility,” Barkins said.
He reassured residents of Kwara State and neighbouring communities that the Army will continue to intensify operations aimed at protecting lives and property. “Law-abiding citizens have nothing to fear,” he added, while urging members of the public to provide credible intelligence to security agencies.
The Nigerian Army has in recent months stepped up operations across flashpoint areas under various exercises and operations, including Operation Park Strike V, targeted at curbing kidnapping, armed banditry, and arms proliferation.
The latest success underscores the Army’s determination to uphold its constitutional duty of defending the nation’s territorial integrity and combating internal security threats.
