Militants in South-East lay down arms as military seizes cache of firearms, munitions and bombs

The Nigerian Army has announced that its sustained military operations in the South-East have led to the surrender of weapons by members of a militant group, while also recovering additional arms and an improvised explosive device in separate intelligence-led operations.

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Troops of the 82 Division/Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA, achieved the latest breakthroughs, which the Army says demonstrate the degrading of criminal groups' operational capacity in the region.

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The South-East has faced persistent security challenges in recent years, including attacks on security personnel, government facilities, and civilians by armed groups, prompting the military to launch Operation UDO KA to restore peace and dismantle criminal networks.

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The operation is part of efforts to improve security across the region, with the Army saying that the latest successes reflect the effectiveness of its combined kinetic and non-kinetic strategy.

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In a statement on its official X account on Sunday, the Nigerian Army said the successes were a result of sustained offensive operations by troops of 82 Division/Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA, which compelled members of a militant group to voluntarily surrender arms.

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The statement noted that separate intelligence-led operations resulted in the recovery of additional weapons and an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), further underscoring the effectiveness of the Nigerian Army's integrated kinetic and non-kinetic approach.

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The breakthrough followed sustained pressure mounted by troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade, coupled with the recent arrest of suspects linked to the killing of a soldier, which forced members of a militant group operating around Egbema and neighbouring communities to surrender their weapons voluntarily.

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The Army explained that one of the suspects disclosed the location where the group's weapons had been concealed and hidden, leading security teams to exhume the site and recover one AK-47 rifle, two AK-47 magazines, 54 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, and four locally fabricated firearms.

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In a separate operation, troops acting on credible intelligence intercepted more weapons and explosives, including two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), 45 rounds of 7.62 mm x 51 ammunition, and one Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

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The Army described the voluntary surrender of weapons as a clear indication that sustained military pressure, strategic engagements, and collaboration with other security agencies were compelling criminal elements to abandon violence.

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The Nigerian Army assessed the voluntary surrender of arms as clear evidence that sustained operational pressure, reinforced by strategic engagement initiatives and collaboration with other security agencies, is yielding tangible results by compelling criminal elements to abandon violence and renounce their criminal activities.

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The Army remains resolute in sustaining the current operational momentum until all criminal networks are dismantled and enduring peace and stability are fully restored across the South East.

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The Army reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the country's territorial integrity and maintaining security across the region through intelligence-driven operations carried out with other security agencies.

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The Army also appealed to members of the public to continue supporting security efforts by providing timely and credible information, which remains indispensable to sustaining operational successes and strengthening national security.