Benue State Police Command has uncovered two gun manufacturing factories in Guma and Kwande Local Government Areas.
Commissioner of Police, Mr Steve Yabanet made the disclosure in a statement yesterday in Makurdi.
Yabanet said following the peaceful Christmas and New Year celebration, the command decided to maintain a peaceful atmosphere by going after criminals in their hideouts.
The commissioner stated that through credible information about criminals manufacturing arms at Mbaafa, Adikpo, Kwande Local Government Area, a team of detectives was deployed to investigate the case.
He said on January 11, police operatives stormed a gun factory at Mbaafa and arrested Friday Aduduakamve and Iorwashima Iornyume, aka ‘AK-35,’ both of the same address.
“Police searched the factory and recovered nine fabricated pistols, one yet-to-be completed AK-47 rifle, two gas cylinders, one filing machine, four other machines and many other tools for fabricating rifles.
“The team also uncovered another gun manufacturing factory in Daudu, Guma Local Government Area and recovered arms.
“As police detectives began intelligence gathering on criminal activities in Daudu, information was received that Meme Ihoon, 50 years old, was responsible for all short arms being used by kidnappers, armed robbers and cultists in Daudu.
“During investigation, the said suspect was arrested on January 10; six dane guns and three long pipes used for fabricating guns were recovered from his house.
“The suspect confessed to have been producing and selling arms. Investigation is ongoing to arrest other criminals connected with the case,” he said.
Yabanet said three brothers from Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River embarked on a journey to Kwande, but were robbed by a motorcyclist who was conveying them.
The commissioner said the motorcyclist diverted them to a different destination and called his gang members to rob them.
“Unknowing to him that one of them understood the language which he spoke. He explained to his brothers that the cyclist was planning evil against them, so they ran away.
“The cyclist and his cohorts still chased them to the bush and robbed them of the French currency (CFA franc) and naira they had.
“They also lynched one of the victims; one sustained grievous injuries, while the other escaped,” he said.
He said two perpetrators, Terhemba Abugh and Shima Terseer, of the same address, were arrested in connection with the crime.
The commissioner called on parents, religious leaders, and traditional rulers to join them in the fight against criminality, as there is the need to train young people on cultural and religious values.
