Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have recovered a large cache of high-calibre 12.7mm ammunition in the Bulumkutu Railway area of Maiduguri, Borno State, following intelligence-led security operations.
The Nigerian Army disclosed the development through its media unit, noting that the recovery was made during ongoing cordon-and-search operations aimed at denying terrorists and other criminal elements freedom of movement within the state.
According to the Army, the ammunition was discovered on Friday afternoon after residents alerted security operatives to suspicious metallic objects spotted inside a drainage channel in the area.
Confirming the incident, the Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, said troops responded to the distress call at about 3:00 p.m., working in collaboration with Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams to secure the environment and assess the situation.
He said a thorough search of the drainage led to the recovery of 1,270 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition warheads, including some live rounds, as well as power banks concealed within the channel.
Uba explained that preliminary measures were immediately taken to secure the site, while efforts were ongoing to drain water from the drainage to determine whether more dangerous items had been hidden in the area.
He added that troops, alongside the police and other security agencies, continued to dominate the general area to ensure the safety of residents, protect critical infrastructure, and prevent any attempt by criminal or terrorist elements to retrieve the recovered items.
The OPHK spokesman said no casualties or unusual incidents were recorded during the operation, noting that although the security situation in the area remained calm, troops were maintaining heightened vigilance due to the unpredictable nature of the threat.
According to him, the successful recovery highlighted the effectiveness of intelligence-driven operations, sustained military pressure, and cooperation from the local community, particularly in the wake of recent operations that led to the arrest or neutralisation of suspected suicide bombers.
Uba urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious objects or movements to security agencies, stressing that community cooperation remained vital to sustaining peace and security in the North-East.
