NSCDC raids Ebonyi-Benue border gang hideout, recovers AK-47, ammunition
- NSCDC operatives in Ebonyi dismantled a suspected criminal hideout near the Benue border in Izzi LGA.
- The raid yielded an AK-47, a locally made pistol, a pump-action gun, knives and ammunition.
- Commandant Francis Nnadi said suspects fled and a manhunt is under way ahead of the elections.
Security operatives in Ebonyi State have broken up a suspected criminal hideout along the Ebonyi-Benue border, recovering an AK-47 rifle and other weapons, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said.
The raid targeted camps used by suspected hoodlums and cult groups around Izzi Local Government Area, close to the Benue State line. It was carried out by the command's Intelligence and Investigation Department together with the State Commandant's Special Squad.
The Ebonyi NSCDC Commandant, Francis Nnadi, briefed journalists at the command headquarters in Abakaliki on Thursday. He said the operation followed intelligence gathering, though the sources differ on how long: Channels TV and The Sun reported a week, while Daily Post said weeks of surveillance.
What was recovered
According to Nnadi, a search of the hideout turned up one AK-47 rifle, one double-loaded magazine, four rounds of live ammunition, one locally made pistol, one pump-action gun, five tactical knives and assorted charms.
The suspects were not arrested. According to Daily Post, they fled into surrounding bush paths as operatives closed in. Nnadi said a manhunt is under way in nearby forests and communities to find them.
No one has been charged or convicted over the arms, and the NSCDC has not named any suspect.
Why it matters
Border communities in Ebonyi and Benue have long complained of armed groups moving through the bush between the two states. For farmers and traders in Izzi and nearby villages, weapons in those forests are a direct threat to safety and to movement between markets.
Nnadi used the briefing to warn criminal groups off the state as the general elections approach. "I want to warn criminal elements ahead of the general elections to flee Ebonyi State," he said, adding that the command and other security agencies are prepared to rid the state of crime.
He also assured residents of border communities of security before, during and after the elections, and asked them to keep passing credible information to security agencies.
What happens next: The NSCDC says its manhunt continues in the forests and nearby communities. Residents in border areas are being asked to report suspicious movement to security agencies.
