Sunday Markus Dung, a suspected gun manufacturer, was apprehended by Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) troops in Plateau State’s Ban village in the Heipang district of the state’s Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.
According to OPSH, goods recovered from the suspect’s factory included six 7.62mm NATO rounds, one submachine gun, one rifle, one handgun, and seven partially manufactured rifles.
Other items include a lister generator, locally made weaponry tools, fabrication materials, military kits, four mobile phones, and some cash.
Major Ishaku Sebastine, spokesperson of the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Rukuba Barrack, Jos, said the troops of the operation raided a local weapon manufacturing factory in the area and arrested the suspect while acting on intelligence information.
The suspect, while speaking to journalists, said: “I started learning the business in 2014 when my late father was alive. I don’t have licences to operate the business. I sell each item for N25,000 to vigilantes. All the items you see here belong to my late father. I am only making cartridges to sell.”
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Speaking further, the army spokesperson said the arrest came amid continuous efforts of OPSH to address the proliferation of weapons in line with the directives and timeline given by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.
He said the exercise was yielding positive results, assuring that troops would remain committed, firm, and tireless in bringing perpetrators of criminal acts to justice while upholding the rule of law as well as ensuring the safety and well-being of all communities under their watch.