Aviashima Toom, Makurdi
Operatives of Benue State Police Command have uncovered another firearms manufacturing site at Ikache village in Oju Local Government Area of the state, recovering locally-fabricated fire arms at different levels of completion.
The alleged arms manufacturer, is a 37-year-old father of five.
This came precisely two months after troops of the military spike operation in the state, code named Operation WHIRL STROKE uncovered a similar site in Logo Local Government Area of the state.
Parading the arms manufacturer, at the weekend, in Makurdi, alongside 18 other robbery and kidnap suspects, Commissioner of Police, Garba Mukaddas, said the armed manufacturer was arrested following a tip off.
The other suspects were arrested with over 30 different caliber of firearms and live ammunition in various parts of the state.
”We gathered information that he manufactures prohibited fire arms and supplies same to criminals.
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“Our investigation led to his arrest and a search in his house led to the recovery of three assorted live ammunition, two empty shells of expended ammunition and parts of locally-made guns,” CP Mukaddas said.
The alleged arms manufacturer in his confessional statement told reporters that, ”I have been in the business of manufacturing guns for about seven years. Though I hardly stay at home, I always travel to Lagos because my family resides there.
”Most of the guns I made were for people from Cross River State. When they had their crisis sometime back, some of the people needed guns and they approached me to manufacture for them. I did and I sold each to them for as low as N7,000.”
The Police Commissioner assured that the Command would carry out thorough investigation into the respective cases of the suspects and arraign them accordingly.
Meanwhile, in a build up to cases of criminality in the state, the command flagged off Operation PUFF ADDER to tackle incidences of kidnappings and other related crimes with a charge on the populace, religious and traditional leaders, youth groups and cooperative unions to join the fight against heinous crimes in the state.