The Nigerian Army has received locally fabricated rocket launchers recovered by the Anambra State-backed Agunechemba Security Squad during an operation that dismantled suspected gunmen’s camps in Orumba North and Orumba South Local Government Areas.
The operation also led to the recovery of two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) and other weapons, marking a significant boost to ongoing efforts by security agencies to combat violent crime and armed groups.
According to a statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of the Agunechemba Security Squad, Mr Nweke Nweke, the operation followed days of intelligence gathering and undercover surveillance across major security flashpoints in the Anambra South Senatorial District.
The statement said the recovered rocket launchers were formally handed over to the Nigerian Army on Saturday at the office of the outfit’s Director of Operations in Awka.
It stated that the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, commended Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, for supporting the operations of the Agunechemba Security Squad and reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the outfit and other security agencies to tackle criminality.
“The Agunechemba Security Squad has recorded another major success in the fight against insecurity following the dislodgement of camps of gunmen in Orumba North and South Local Government Areas and the recovery of a cache of arms, including two General Purpose Machine Guns and locally made rocket launchers, which have been handed over to the Nigerian Army,” the statement said.
Chief Chinenye Ihenko, who represented the Governor’s Special Adviser on Community Security, Kenneth Emeakayi, described the handover as evidence of the growing collaboration between the state-backed security outfit and the Nigerian Army.
He said the operation was one of Agunechemba’s most successful, noting that operatives completed the mission without casualties despite coming under attack from suspected gunmen, who fled with injuries after abandoning the weapons.
Ihenko commended Governor Soludo for supporting the security outfit and urged residents to continue providing credible intelligence to security agencies, stressing that community cooperation remains vital to addressing insecurity.
Also speaking, the Commander of the 302 Artillery Regiment (General Support), Onitsha, Colonel Buteus Yakubu, represented by Lieutenant P. O. Idowu, commended Agunechemba for the successful operation.
He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to sustained collaboration with the Agunechemba Security Squad and the Nigeria Police Force in Anambra State to strengthen security and combat criminal activities.
The handover ceremony was attended by officials of the Agunechemba Security Squad, military personnel, and members of the Anambra State House of Assembly.
