Enugu — Soldiers in the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu have arrested 27 suspects for their alleged involvement in drugs peddling, human trafficking and cultism among others.

The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Col. Aliyu Yusuf, said in a statement in Enugu that troops of the Exercise, Atilogwu Udo 1, with the police and other security agencies conducted an operation in suspected illegal drug peddlers' hideouts at Amansea, Kwata and Nino Okpuno in Awka North LGA of Anambra.

He said, "Consequently, 22 suspected drug peddlers with varying quantities of different hard drugs and Indian hemp were arrested."

"Troops of Sector 4 in Onitsha, on November 5, arrested a suspected gun runner, Mr Leonard Asogwa, having conducted a search on him and recovered two pump action guns and 25 rounds of live cartridges in his possession," he added.

Also, Yusuf said on November 5, a suspected human trafficker, Uzoma Uzoma, was arrested by troops of Sector 2, along Aba-Owerri Road and one of his victims, Chinonyerem Nkemakolam, was rescued in the course of the arrest.

He added: "Also, on November 6, troops of sector 2 in collaboration with DSS personnel raided the home of a suspected kidnapper in Osisioma Aba, Abia State while the suspect escaped but his father who aided his escape was arrested.

"One pump action gun and five live cartridges were found in the house."

He added that four suspected student cultists of Abia State Polytechnic were arrested by troops of Sector 2 Ohafia on November 5, while the sector also arrested four suspected IPOB members in Aba, while peddling Biafra. newspapers.

He said all arrested suspects so far in the ongoing exercise have been duly handed over to the appropriate security agencies for investigation and further actions.