Army intercepts 3 trucks with 300,000 live cartridges

The 81 Division of the Nigerian Army on Thursday said it had intercepted three trucks loaded with over 300, 000 live cartridges on the Igbogila-Ilara area of Ogun.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the division, Maj.-Gen. Enobong Udoh, disclosed this to journalists at a news conference at the division’s headquarters in Lagos.

The GOC was represented by the 35 Artillery Brigade Commander, Brig.-Gen. Olusegun Olatunde.

“The 81 Division Nigerian Army in conjunction with some security agencies on May 30 at about 2:58 am. intercepted three 5-ton trucks loaded with thousands of live cartridges,’’ he said.

He said the trucks, which were intercepted at Balogun Village on Igbogila-Ilara road, Ogun, State, had registration numbers Anambra AAH 409 ZV, Lagos BDG 782 XU and Lagos GGF 88 XU.

“The live cartridges in boxes and cartons were carefully concealed in a wooden platform with metallic plates,” he added.

The GOC said that the drivers and their accomplices, on sighting the troops, abandoned their trucks and fled.

He said the team was on the trail of the fleeing drivers, their collaborators as well as sponsors.

The GOC, who said the interception followed a tip off received from well meaning Nigerians, thanked residents of Lagos and Ogun for their continued cooperation.

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He urged them to always give timely information, pledging not to relent until the area was rid of cultism, smuggling, vandalism and other violent criminal activities.

Udoh further enjoined members of the public to continue to call the dedicated numbers released to the public or the nearest military barrack to give useful information.

He gave the dedicated numbers as 07069353889 and 08060492529 for Ojo residents, 07017064979 for Badagry, 08034347484 for Victoria Island, 08065992320 for Ikeja, 08069097624 for Owode, 08065806870 for Ikorodu, 07064281177 for Obalende and 08053862233 and 08057705135 for Abeokuta residents.