Troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade, operating under Operation UDOKA, have arrested three suspected members of a criminal gang behind the ambush of Nigerian Army personnel on 4 May 2026. The attack killed one soldier and left another wounded, with the assailants carting away military weapons. In a coordinated interstate operation spanning Rivers, Delta and Imo states, the troops also recovered the stolen service weapons plus additional arms and ammunition.
Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations for the 82 Division Nigerian Army, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Saturday, 1 August 2026. He said the arrests followed months of intelligence-driven pursuit by troops under Operation UDOKA (OPUK), which continues alongside the broader Operation Eastern Sanity II aimed at stabilising the South-East region.
How the Suspects Were Tracked
The breakthrough came after sustained raid operations and the interrogation of previously arrested gang members. These efforts produced actionable intelligence that identified the principal suspects as Albert Tony, also known as “Chiboy”; Temple Eburua, alias “Marathon”; and Vitalis Eburua, alias “Onowu”. Investigators learned that the trio had initially fled to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, before relocating to Oleh in Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, with the assistance of an associate identified simply as Mr. Abire.
On 30 July, troops apprehended Abire in Port Harcourt. During interrogation, he disclosed the exact whereabouts of the three fugitive suspects in Oleh. Acting swiftly on that intelligence, troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade moved to Delta State in the early hours of 31 July. There, they linked up with personnel from the 181 Battalion, part of the 63 Brigade, and carried out a coordinated raid at Opaebe, Oleh. The operation led to the arrest of the three principal suspects without incident.
Recovered Weapons and Equipment
Following their arrest, the suspects reportedly guided troops to their hideout at Aggah Plantation, Ekpeaggah, in Rivers State. Further exploitation uncovered another camp at Umudike Plantation. The searches yielded a significant cache of weapons and military equipment.
Among the recovered items were the service weapons stolen during the May ambush: one AK-47 rifle with two magazines and one FN rifle with two magazines. In addition, troops recovered three more AK-47 rifles with nine magazines, one pistol with its magazine, 194 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, and 45 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition. A fragment protection jacket was also seized.
Military clothing and protective gear were found at the hideouts, including camouflage shirts, trousers, and jungle hats. Other items recovered include one empty first aid box and five mobile phones believed to be linked to the syndicate’s criminal activities.
Official Statement on the Operation
The Nigerian Army described the operation as a significant success, highlighting the persistence of the troops. According to the statement, “Troops of 34 Artillery Brigade, operating under Operation UDOKA through the ongoing Operation EASTERN SANITY II, have recorded a significant operational success with the arrest of key members of a notorious criminal syndicate responsible for the ambush of troops on 4 May 2026.”
The statement added: “Following the attack, troops launched a series of intelligence-led raids aimed at apprehending the perpetrators and recovering weapons stolen during the incident. These sustained operations resulted in the arrest of the suspects. Acting on actionable intelligence, in the early hours of 31 July 2026, troops in collaboration with 181 Battalion operating under 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army, conducted a coordinated raid at Opaebe and Oleh in Delta State, which led to the arrest of the suspects popularly known as Chiboy, Marathon, and Onowu, who had fled to Oleh in Delta State after the dastardly ambush on troops.”
Subsequent to the arrests, the suspects led troops to their hideouts, where the stolen weapons and other arms used in committing criminal acts were concealed. During the operation, troops recovered not only the stolen service weapons but also additional rifles, ammunition, and equipment used by the syndicate.
Commendation and Next Steps
The Headquarters Joint Task Force South-East, Operation UDOKA, praised the troops involved in the operation. It lauded “the professionalism, resilience, and inter-agency cooperation demonstrated by the troops throughout the operation.” The statement further noted: “This success underscores the commitment of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies to safeguarding lives and dismantling criminal networks in order to sustain the peace-building processes ongoing across the region.”
The suspects are currently in custody for further investigation and will face prosecution in accordance with the law, the statement concluded. The operation marks another milestone in the military’s ongoing efforts to curb armed violence and recover illegal weapons in the South-East and South-South zones of Nigeria.
