Troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have uncovered an illegal arms manufacturing facility in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State and arrested a suspect.
The discovery was made during routine security patrols by troops deployed at the Forward Operating Base, Idadu, according to the Acting Media Information Officer of OPWS, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu.
In a statement issued on Monday, Zubairu said the sustained aggressive operational tempo of the Joint Task Force led to the uncovering of the concealed site believed to be used for the illegal fabrication of locally made weapons.
“Troops conducting routine patrols aimed at curtailing criminal activities stumbled upon a concealed location suspected to be used for the illegal manufacture of locally fabricated arms,” he said.
Zubairu disclosed that several suspects fled the scene on sighting the troops, but one individual was arrested while attempting to evade arrest.
“One suspect, Baba Ogar, a 26-year-old male from Arusu village in Kokona Local Government Area, was apprehended while attempting to escape by hiding on top of a tree,” the statement said.
A search of the site led to the recovery of six locally fabricated pistols, assorted tools and instruments believed to be used in the production of illegal weapons, ₦40,500 in cash, and a mobile phone found in the suspect’s possession.
According to the OPWS spokesperson, preliminary investigations revealed that the location served as an illegal arms factory supplying firearms to criminal elements within and beyond the area.
He said the suspect is currently in custody, while investigations have been intensified to track and arrest other accomplices who fled the scene.
The Force Commander of OPWS, Major General Moses Gara, commended the troops for their professionalism, vigilance and sustained operational pressure, which he said culminated in the discovery of the illegal arms production facility.
He urged the troops to sustain the momentum and continue to rely on intelligence-driven operations to dismantle criminal networks across the Joint Operations Area.
Maj.-Gen. Gara also stressed the importance of public cooperation, calling on residents to continue providing timely and credible intelligence, noting that actionable information remains critical to achieving lasting security and promoting economic growth.
