Soldier Nabbed For Allegedly Smuggling Ammunitions In Kaduna

A 25-year-old soldier, Private Yahaya Yunusa, has been apprehended by the Nigerian military for being in possession of ammunition in Jaji, Igabi local government area of Kaduna State.

According to an operational report obtained on Sunday by SaharaReporters, Yunusa, who was attached to the 197 Special Forces Battalion in Zamfara State was arrested around 11:55 a.m. on Friday while unlawfully carrying 214 rounds of various calibres of linked ammunition.

The report revealed that the soldier was found with the unapproved ammunition alongside his military identification card, and several Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards at the time of his arrest.

The breakdown of the ammunitions Yunusa was caught with, according to the online newspaper, include 50 rounds of 12.7×108mm and 69 rounds of 7.62×54mmR—both sets linked by chains—35 rounds of unlinked 7.62×54mmR, and 60 rounds of 5.56×45mm.

He was also in possession of personal ATM cards of Opay, Unity Bank, Access Bank, and First Bank at the time of the arrest.

Yunusa reportedly confessed during interrogation to have retrieved the ammunition during operations, stating that he was the operator of the Anti-Aircraft (AA) machine gun mounted on a military vehicle.

“About 1155hrs of 18th April 2025, one Yahaya Yunusa, a 25-year-old military Private (PTE), was apprehended in Jaji, Igabi Local Government Area, Kaduna State.

“The suspect said he is a member of the 197 Special Forces Battalion, Zamfara State,” the statement read.