Troops discover arms factory in Plateau
Troops from 3 Division/Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, responsible for restoring peace in Plateau and some parts of Bauchi and Kaduna states, raided an illegal arms manufacturing factory at Heipang District in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, recovering arms and ammunition from the factory. The troops also said they arrested […]
Nigerien armed forces patrol in pickup trucks near Malam Fatori on April 3, 2015, after the town in north-eastern Nigeria was retaken from Boko Haram by troops from Chad and Niger. AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE DESMAZES (Photo by PHILIPPE DESMAZES / AFP)
Troops from 3 Division/Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, responsible for restoring peace in Plateau and some parts of Bauchi and Kaduna states, raided an illegal arms manufacturing factory at Heipang District in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, recovering arms and ammunition from the factory.
The troops also said they arrested a weapon fabricator in the factory, while others fled the factory before troops arrived in the area.
Disclosing the development on Thursday, the spokesperson of the operation, Major Samson Zhakom, told journalists that the joint operation took place on September 17 following intelligence gathered by troops.
Major Zhakom added that during the operation, “a thorough search of the illegal factory led to the recovery of the following items: 12 assorted fabricated weapons, one fabricated pistol, 19 rounds of PKT ammunition, 12 cartridges, and 10 rounds of 7.62 mm (Special) ammunition.
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Additional items recovered include “10 rounds of 9mm ammunition, four rounds of 7.62 mm (NATO), one round of QJC ammunition, one smoke grenade, two fragmentary jackets, one Motorola Handheld Radio, one Jack knife, and one bucket containing different medicines. “
Major Zhakom further said the arrested suspect and recovered items are in custody for further action, stressing that efforts are ongoing to track and arrest the fleeing members of the illegal weapon manufacturing syndicate.
He said the operation is in continuation of efforts to mop up illicit arms and ammunition in the Joint Operations Area (JOA), urging the public to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to security agencies to support the ongoing efforts to deny criminal elements freedom of any action.