Operatives of the Benue State Police Command have uncovered two gun manufacturing factories in Guma and Kwande local government areas of the state.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Steve Yabanet, announced this in a statement released on Tuesday.
The police commander revealed that the discovery was made possible through credible information about criminals manufacturing arms at Mbaafa, Adikpo, Kwande LGA.
Detectives were promptly deployed to the area for investigation, leading to the raid on a gun factory at Mbaafa on January 11. Two suspects, Friday Aduduakamve and Iorwashima Iornyume, aka AK-35, were arrested during the operation.
A thorough search of the factory yielded nine fabricated pistols and one unfinished AK-47 rifle, among other incriminating evidence.
Further investigation led the police to another gun manufacturing factory in Daudu, Guma LGA, where additional arms were recovered.
According to the police, intelligence gathering on criminal activities in Daudu revealed that a 50-year-old man, Meme Ihoon, was responsible for producing and supplying short arms to kidnappers, armed robbers, and cultists in the area. Ihoon was arrested on January 10, and six dane guns and three long pipes used for fabricating guns were seized from his residence.
During interrogation, Ihoon confessed to producing and selling arms. The police are currently investigating to apprehend other suspects connected to the case, as stated by the police spokesman.
