Nigerian Troops Reportedly Thwart Weapons Smuggling From Libya to Boko Haram

The troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) Sector 4 have reportedly intercepted a significant shipment of weapons destined to be delivered to Bakura, a Boko Haram factional leader in the Lake Chad region.

Phantom Eye Hub, an intelligence and security, counterinsurgency expert with a special interest in Lake Chad and North East Nigeria, which disclosed this in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), revealed that the shipment was intercepted in Niger through what it described as a major intelligence operation.

The operation which took place over the weekend, according to the intelligence group, was carried out in the northern part of Nguigmi, near the Niger Republic and Chad border.

According to the report, the seized weapons which include 6 AK-47 assault rifles, 11 magazines, and 50 rounds of ammunition, were originated in Libya and transported through an arms courier network.

It partly read: "In a major intelligence operation over the weekend, troops of Sector 4 MNJTF in Niger intercepted a significant shipment of weapons destined for Bakura, a Boko Haram factional leader in the Lake Chad region.

"The successful operation, carried out in northern part of Nguigmi, near the Niger and Chad border, prevented a potentially deadly influx of weaponry into the hands of the terrorists. The seized weapons include 6 AK-47 assault rifles, 11 magazines, and 50 rounds of ammunition.

"A counter intelligence expert revealed that the intercepted weapons originated in Libya and were transported through an arms courier network. This finding points to a wider web of illicit arms trafficking potentially fueling instability."