KADULA, Nigeria – Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE have intercepted a significant shipment of heavy ammunition and materials used to manufacture explosives along the Kaduna-Jos highway, dealing a major blow to the logistics network of terrorist elements operating in the region.
According to a statement issued on Friday, April 17, 2026, by the Joint Task Force’s Media Information Officer, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, the operation took place around 11:45 am on Thursday, April 16, near the Boys Science Secondary School along the Manchok-Jos road in Kaduna State.
Captain Oteh detailed that vigilant troops deployed at Manchok, reinforced by a Special Forces Tactical Team, were conducting a precision stop-and-search operation when they flagged down a navy-blue Opel Wagon commercial vehicle with registration number NSR 154 TA KANO. The vehicle was traveling with seven passengers on board.
“A comprehensive search led to the discovery of a lethal cache of ammunition hidden within the vehicle,” Captain Oteh stated. The recovered items included “569 rounds of 12.7mm Anti-Aircraft (AA) gun ammunition, several high-velocity warheads, and 189 empty shells of 7.62mm special ammunition.”
In addition to the ammunition, the troops also uncovered materials frequently used in bomb-making. “The search also yielded a collection of disused Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) handsets, which technical experts frequently identify as primary components used in the construction of remotely detonated Improvised Explosive Devices,” the captain added.
During initial on-site interrogation, the driver of the vehicle, identified as Mr. Khalifa Bawa, attempted to distance himself from the contraband. Captain Oteh quoted the suspect as claiming that “the lethal hardware was a ‘waybill’ consignment.” Mr. Bawa allegedly told troops that the items were handed over by an anonymous source and that he had no contact information or identifying details for either the sender at the point of origin or the intended recipient at the destination.
The military has since taken all occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, into custody. The seized vehicle and all recovered items are being held for further analysis.
“Troops are working to trace the origin of the shipment and identify the wider network involved in this attempted transit of war materiel across state lines,” Captain Oteh concluded.
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