By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
Military forces have dismantled a covert weapons manufacturing hub in a village in Plateau State, arresting two suspects found making sophisticated firearms, the military announced Thursday.
The operation, conducted around 5:00 pm on Wednesday by troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE in Gwandanu Village, Langtang North Local Government Area, led to the seizure of two AK-47 rifles, one G3 rifle, and industrial equipment including welding and drilling machines, generating sets, and a technical toolbox.
In a separate incident the same day in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, troops responded to an armed attack on members of the Forest Guards and the Vigilante Group of Nigeria. In coordination with the Forest Guards, security forces pursued the attackers toward the Jaginde Forest axis.
The suspects abandoned a motorcycle and fled into the bush near Ungwar Maruwa upon spotting the approaching troops. One fleeing suspect was arrested, and a search of their hideouts recovered an AK-47 rifle, one AK-49 rifle, a motorcycle, and a sleeping mat.
The two suspects from the Plateau raid are currently in custody as authorities investigate their distribution network and possible links to wider criminal syndicates. Mop-up operations are ongoing to recover additional locally fabricated weapons and intercept other fleeing suspects.
Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, Media Information Officer for the Joint Task Force, said the operations reflect the military’s commitment to restoring peace and stability in the joint operations area by targeting sources of communal violence and other criminal activities. He urged the public to continue providing timely information to assist security efforts.
