The Nigeria Police, FCT Command has uncovered an illegal firearm fabricating factory located around Shenagu village near Zuba, Abuja.
A statement signed by CP SADIQ ABUBAKAR BELLO FCT Police Commissioner said the raid followed intelligence and discreet Police investigation.
“During a raid on the factory, three suspects were arrested, they include the owner of the factory, Philip John the supplier of ammunitions, Mr Onyegabueze Okpara and the distributor of the arms, one Joseph Bulus. During interrogation, Philip John stated that he has been doing the illicit business for 17 years and confessed that he sells fabricated single-barrel guns to his clients at N20,000 each while Dane gun is sold for N10,000. According to him, he also services and repairs malfunctioning guns brought to him by his clients. The supplier of the ammunitions Mr Onyegabueze Okpara who disguises as a bicycle spare-parts dealer was arrested at Kwaita market in possession of the exhibits which he carefully conceals and sells to criminals,” Bello said.
“In his statement, he narrated that he started the illicit deal since 1997 and that he sells a pack containing 25pieces of live cartridge for N12,000, while single cartridge goes for N500. He further confessed that he gets his supply from Onitsha.
“ Lastly Joseph Bulus, the major link that connects the principal suspect with potential buyers of the fabricated firearms, was arrested at Zuba. The suspects will be charged to court on conclusion of investigation.
Below is the case details released to newsmen
CASE 1: ARREST OF SUSPECTED ILLEGAL ARMED MANUFACTURER/SUPPLIER OF AMMUNITION AND DISTRIBUTOR/RECOVERY OF FIRE ARM SUSPECTS: 1. PHILIPS JOHN ‘M’ 47 YEARS OF MADALLA, NIGER STATE 2. ONYEGABUEZE OKPARA ‘M’ 50 YEARS OF ABAJI 3. JOSEPH BULUS ‘M’ 35 YEARS OF CHAZA, NIGER STATE LIST OF RECOVERED EXHIBITS EXHIBITS RECOVERED FROM JOSEPH BULUS ‘M’ (THE FIRST SUSPECT): 1. One (1) locally fabricated Double Barrel Fire Arm 2. Two (2) live 12 caliber cartridges 3. One (1) single Barrel Fire Arm frame 4. Two (2) Dane Gun frame and 5. Fifty eight (58) empty Cartridges shells. EXHIBITS RECOVERED FROM ONYEGABUEZE OKPARA ‘M’ (THE SECOND SUSPECT): L 1. Three hundred and thirty eight (338) live 12 caliber Cartridges. EXHIBITS: EXHIBITS RECOVERED FROM PHILIP JOHN ‘M’ (THE THIRD SUSPECT): 1. Locally fabricated Revolver Pistol Cylinder 2. Four (4) Dane guns 3. One (1) double Barrel Fire arm 4. One (1) single Barrel fire arm 5. Two (2) Caliber live Cartridge 6. Empty Caliber Cartridge shell 7. Six (6) Dane gun Muzzles 8. Four (4) single Barrel Muzzles 9. Six (6) single Barrel fire arm frame 10. Two (2) Dane gun Hammer 11. Five (5) Gun Muzzle spring 12. One (1) manual motor drill 13. One (1) dice for retread and 14. Various implement used for manufacture of locally made weapons.
The statement went further to state that Police arrested other people in illegal possession of ammunitions.
“CASE 2: ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECT/RECOVERY OF FIREARM On 15/09/15 at about 2300hrs Police operatives on stop and search at Dantata Bridge Jabi intercepted and arrested one Benjamin Jatau ‘M’ 29 years of Kabusa in possession of one barreta pistol with two rounds of live ammunition, one revolver pistol and one locally made pistol.
“The exhibits were discovered by the police operatives during a search conducted on the bag the suspect was carrying while on transit from Jabi to Kabusa in a tricycle. In his statement, the suspect an ex-convict confessed that the guns which he bought at fifty thousand naira (N50,000) was to be used for a major robbery operation around Kabusa and environs.
“Other exhibits recovered include: dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, one nokia phone, charm and a screw driver. The suspect and exhibit have been transferred to the Command Special Anti-Robbery (SARS) for discreet investigation and prosecution. CASE 3: ARREST OF NOTORIOUS ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECTS/RECOVERY OF FIREARM SUSPECTS: HASHIRU ISIAKA ‘M’ 30 YEARS OF KURUDUMA UMAR ADAMU ‘M’ 2O YEARS OF AREA 1 TUKUR BALA ‘M’ 25 YEARS OF AREA 1 BASHIRU MOHAMMED ‘M’ 25 YEARS OF DURUMI EXHIBITS:- ONE (1) locally made Pistol On 20/09/2017 at about 2330hrs operatives of the Command Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) while responding to a distress call about an armed robbery attack at Apo round-about arrested one Umar Adamu at the scene while his cohorts fled on sighting the team.
“The suspects robbed and dispossessed the sum of one hundred and twenty thousand naira (N120,000) from two of their victims. Three of his cohorts were later arrested by the Police detectives in the early hour of Thursday 21/09/2017 and the pistol used for the operation was recovered in the room of the gang leader (Hashimu Isiaka) located at Kuruduma Village. Investigation is on-going and suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion.”
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