Nigerian Army Arrests Notorious Gunrunner, Seizes 15 Italian-Made Rifles in Rivers

The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army apprehended Peter Onyeali Chibueze, a 36-year-old notorious gunrunner from Mbaitoli, Imo State, in a sting operation in Port Harcourt. Troops recovered 15 Italian-made automatic double-barrel guns hidden in a sack of clothing, according to Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah, Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations.The operation, driven by credible intelligence, targeted Chibueze as he attempted to retrieve the concealed firearms. Preliminary investigations revealed he purchased the arms from the Onitsha market in Anambra State and was involved in arms trafficking across Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Bayelsa States. The suspect had been on security agencies’ watch lists.Jonah highlighted that this arrest follows a September operation where the Division busted another gunrunning syndicate, recovering two English pistols, four locally fabricated pistols, and a double-barrelled gun. He described the latest success as a “significant shift” in efforts to curb Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) proliferation in the Niger Delta, alongside ongoing anti-crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism operations.“The vigilant troops uncovered the carefully concealed consignment of 15 automatic pump-action rifles,” Jonah stated, noting ongoing efforts to apprehend other syndicate members. He reaffirmed the commitment of Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, General Officer Commanding 6 Division and Land Component Commander of Operation DELTA SAFE, to ensuring safety and fostering socio-economic activities in the region.Jonah urged criminal elements to abandon illegal activities and warned of intensified operations targeting flashpoints. He also called on the public to provide actionable intelligence to support the Division’s efforts in dismantling criminal networks and securing the Niger Delta.

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