Troops of the Nigerian Army have dismantled an illegal weapons fabrication facility in Plateau State, dealing a major blow to criminal groups fueling insecurity in the region.
The raid, carried out under Operation Enduring Peace by personnel of the 3 Division and Joint Task Force, followed credible intelligence that exposed the activities of a syndicate running an arms factory in Heipang District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.
During the Wednesday operation, soldiers stormed the hideout, arresting one suspected fabricator while several others escaped before the troops’ arrival.
According to the Army, the search of the facility revealed a disturbing cache of improvised weapons and ammunition.
Maj. Samson Zhakom, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for 3 Division, confirmed the development in a statement.
“The operation led to the recovery of 12 locally fabricated rifles, a homemade pistol, and assorted rounds of ammunition of different calibres,” he explained.
Also seized were a smoke grenade, two fragmentary jackets, a Motorola hand-held radio, a jack knife, and a bucket filled with various medicines believed to have been used by the syndicate.
Zhakom further noted that the arrested suspect and recovered items are now in military custody, while efforts are underway to track down the fleeing accomplices.
He stressed that the Nigerian Army remains determined to rid the North-Central region of illegal arms manufacturers.
“We will continue to mop up illicit weapons and deny criminal elements the tools they use to terrorise communities. Our goal is to restore peace and stability in Plateau and beyond,” he stated.
Security analysts believe the bust highlights the link between local arms fabrication and the rising wave of attacks in Plateau and neighbouring states.
Many have urged tighter surveillance and intelligence-sharing among security agencies to curb the spread of such networks.
The Plateau raid adds to ongoing nationwide operations targeting illegal arms proliferation, which authorities say is one of the biggest drivers of violence in rural communities across Nigeria.