Troops of the 3 Division/Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation ENDURING PEACE have uncovered and dismantled an illegal arms manufacturing factory in Heipang District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The raid, conducted on Wednesday, September 17, was based on credible intelligence about the activities of a syndicate involved in arms fabrication in the area.
Media Information Officer for JTF Operation ENDURING PEACE, Major Samson Nantip Zhakom, confirmed the operation in a statement on Thursday, September 18. He revealed that one arms fabricator was arrested during the raid, while others managed to escape before the troops arrived.
According to the statement, a thorough search of the factory led to the recovery of several dangerous items, including twelve assorted fabricated weapons, a fabricated pistol, nineteen rounds of PKT ammunition, twelve cartridges, ten rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, ten rounds of 9mm ammunition, four rounds of 7.62mm (NATO), one round of QJC ammunition, a smoke grenade, two fragmental jackets, a Motorola handheld radio, a jack knife, and a bucket containing various medicines.
The arrested suspect and all recovered items are currently in custody for further investigation, while efforts are ongoing to track down and apprehend the fleeing members of the syndicate.
The 3 Division/JTF Operation ENDURING PEACE also urged members of the public to continue sharing credible intelligence with security agencies to support ongoing efforts to eradicate illicit arms and deny criminals the freedom to operate within the Joint Operations Area.
