Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have intercepted a large cache of ammunition and suspected improvised explosive device materials along the Kaduna–Jos highway, in what authorities described as a disruption of a supply route used by armed groups operating in north-central Nigeria.
The military said the interception took place on April 16 during a stop-and-search operation near Manchok in Kaduna State.
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The spokesperson for the task force, Chinonso Oteh, said the troops recovered “a lethal cache of ammunition hidden within the vehicle,” including 569 rounds of 12.7mm anti-aircraft ammunition and components linked to explosive devices.
According to the military, the items were found in a commercial Opel Wagon carrying seven passengers. Troops also recovered several high-velocity warheads, 189 empty shells of 7.62mm ammunition and disused mobile phones, which security experts say are often repurposed for remote detonation.
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Mr Oteh said the driver, identified as Khalifa Bawa, claimed the items were part of a delivery consignment but could not provide details of the sender or recipient. “The suspect alleged that the items were handed over by an anonymous source and claimed he had no contact information or identifying details,” he said.
All occupants of the vehicle have been taken into custody, while investigations are ongoing to trace the origin and intended destination of the weapons.
Security analysts say the route is a known corridor linking parts of Kaduna, Plateau and Bauchi states, where armed groups have carried out attacks in recent months.
The development comes amid intensified military operations targeting armed groups and their logistics networks. In neighbouring Bauchi State, troops recently overran bandit camps in Dajin Madam Forest, dismantling key hideouts and recovering weapons, uniforms and supplies used by the groups.
Military authorities said the operation in Bauchi also led to the capture of family members linked to the suspects and the destruction of motorcycles used for movement, further weakening their operational capacity.
The latest interception also follows repeated attacks in Plateau State, including killings in Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and Jos South, where residents have raised concerns about the movement of armed groups across rural corridors.
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Security officials have increasingly focused on cutting off supply chains, arguing that restricting access to ammunition and logistics is critical to reducing the frequency and scale of attacks.
Residents in affected communities, however, have continued to call for a more proactive presence of security forces, noting that many attacks occur despite prior warnings about suspicious movements.
The military said operations under Operation Enduring Peace would continue, with troops maintaining surveillance along major transit routes and suspected supply corridors.
