By Augustine Osayande
Troops of Nigerian Army on internal security operations deployed at Akwanga highway Nasarawa State on Wednesday discovered arms factory with equipment and products at various stages of production at Angbo Village, Wamba Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
Confirming the report, Director of Army Public Relations Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman said the discovery of the arms factory follows the arrest of a suspected gun runner, Mohammed Bello at Akwanga highway in an Opel Vectra Saloon Car with the fabricated guns heading to Saminaka to link up with his gang leader Damina Saminaka.
“Troops of Nigerian Army on internal security operations deployed at Akwanga highway Nasarawa State, today Wednesday 10th January 2018, arrested a suspected gun runner, Mohammed Bello, in an Opel Vectra Saloon Car with the fabricated guns heading to Saminaka to link up with his gang leader Damina Saminaka.
“During preliminary interrogation, the suspect claimed to purchase the weapons for Thirty Thousand Naira (N30,000.00k), from a blacksmith gun fabricator named Dan Asabe Audu, who reside at Angbo Village, Wamba Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
“Determined to get to the root of the matter, the troops further went to the village where they found out that indeed Dan Asabe Audu has been in the business of illegal arms manufacturing for criminals for quite some time. They found a complete arms factory with equipment and the products at various stages of production” Usman said.
The Army spokesman added that the troops recovered 3 completely locally fabricated guns, 20 locally fabricated guns at various stages of production, 7 units of 9mm empty cases, one 9mm blank ammunition, 2 drilling machine, 1 power generating set and 3 mobile telephone handsets.
Usman said the suspects would soon be handed over to the relevant security agency for further investigation and prosecution and called on the public to provide useful information that will assist the military and security agencies in apprehending such criminals to make the society safe.