Police bust illegal gun factory in Yobe

The Nigeria Police Force in Yobe State has uncovered an illegal firearms fabrication workshop in Potiskum Local Government Area, leading to the arrest of seven suspected gunmakers.

The operation, carried out on Monday, targeted a blacksmith workshop located at Tasha Adua along Danchuwa Road in Potiskum. According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, the raid followed credible intelligence on illicit arms production in the area.

Describing the development as a major breakthrough, the command said operatives from the Potiskum Area Command, working alongside officers from the Divisional Police Headquarters, successfully dismantled the operation.

Items recovered from the site included two locally fabricated pistols, 24 muzzle pipes, nine gun butts, four unserviceable Dane guns, a filing machine and a cutlass.

Abdulkarim stated that the suspects were apprehended at the workshop and are currently in police custody undergoing interrogation. He added that investigations are ongoing to uncover possible collaborators, identify buyers and determine the intended use of the weapons.

The Commissioner of Police, Usman Kanfani Jibrin, has directed an expanded investigation to track down other illegal arms manufacturing centres and evaluate the broader security implications.

The police also called on residents to remain alert and report any suspicious activities to security agencies.