Bar Owner Detained, Five Firearms Recovered in Anambra Arms Racketeering Probe

Personnel attached to the 82 Division/JTF South-East Operations have taken a bar proprietor into custody and seized five guns as part of a follow-up inquiry into suspected arms racketeering in Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State. According to security sources, the action came after the detention of Cpl Ibrahim Mustapha of the 185 Battalion and a man identified as Mr Odera in connection with the same allegations. The soldier was said to have stated during questioning that the firearms were being held by the proprietor of Prince Bar in Azia community, Ihiala LGA. Upon receiving that information, troops moved to the site without delay and detained the bar owner, 31-year-old Mr Ikenna Oklie, who is widely called Big Star. A first round of questioning of the suspect reportedly resulted in the discovery of three pump-action guns and two locally made firearms. The soldier and the other suspects are being held by the 302 Artillery Regiment while enquiries continue. The raid is part of continuing attempts by security agencies to break up unlawful weapons networks and identify where illegal arms in the South-East come from and who keeps them, according to security analyst Zagazola Makama.