Military Uncovers Illegal Arm Factories in Benue

The Nigerian military on Monday uncovered an illegal local armed manufacturing factory in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State and arrested two manufacturers.

The Commander, Operation Whirl Stroke OPWS, Major General Adeyemi Yekini,  disclosed this at a press conference in Makurdi.

Yekini, who also paraded the two suspects before journalists at the OPWS headquarters located at the Tactical Air Command Makurdi, explained that his men about three weeks ago received reports of some weapon manufacturers operating between Ukum and logo local government areas of the state.

He stated that upon the information, they mounted several weeks of surveillance; they  were able to track the culprits and where to locate them.

Yekini, who gave the names of those involved to include Atii Cephas and Mnzuga Teryila, said they were arrested following intelligence report given to his troops in Anyiin, Logo and Ukum local government areas.

Also, Sector Commander of OPWS in charge of Logo and Ukum areas, Capt. Samuel Okenarhe, stated that on receipt of information on a weapon manufacturing syndicate, they set out to trail them.

 "On March 24, 2019,  we got information that two persons had AK47 in Anyiin town. But before we got there, I heard that some of the locals were already lynching one of them. On sighting us, they ran away and we arrested the person with AK47 and when we interrogated him, he told us that he manufactured the weapons in Tine Unune in Ukum LGA. Same evening, we got another report that the suspect who ran away was seen roaming about his house, and we laid ambush and got him that night in Zaki Biam Ukum LGA.  He led us to the second manufacturing plant.  We raided the place and recovered several weapons that are in different stages of manufacturing," Okenarhe said.

During interviewed with journalists, one of the suspects, Cephas Atii, revealed that he started the act of manufacturing weapons about two years ago after his returned from studies abroad and was confronted with financial challenges.

"I started this arms business when I returned from Europe two years ago. All I had vanished due to witchcraft, and I had to start all over again. I had this idea of arm manufacturing, and I thought to go into it to get small money.

 "On Monday, I was traveling from Wukari to Anyii. When I got to Anyii, since it was distant, on getting there, I had this old friend who called me to ask if he can get a simple riffle for self-defence.

"So, I obliged him and promised to get it for him. I don't own a workshop but I know a manufacturer. On arriving at my farm at about 8a.m., some of my brothers came and we started exchanging words and there and then, they called the army saying there was somebody with AK 47 and that was how l was arrested.

"I studied Engineering in Telecommunication but have no job. I needed to do something to make money. I learnt arms manufacturing in Mauritania in less than five years. I have so far supplied over 16 arms including pistols which goes for N50,000 and AK47 which is sold for between N320,000.00 and N350,000.00 naira,"Atii stated.