By Harriet Tornguvan
Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE have dismantled an illegal arms manufacturing hub in Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State, in a major crackdown on the proliferation of illicit weapons and criminal activities in the region.
The operation targeted a clandestine facility in Gwandanu Village, where two suspects were apprehended while allegedly fabricating firearms.
According to a statement issued by Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, the troops recovered a cache of weapons and equipment used in the production of illegal arms. Items seized during the raid include two AK-47 rifles and one G3 rifle, as well as industrial tools such as generating sets, a welding machine, a drilling machine, a hand filler, and a comprehensive technical toolbox.
In a related operation in neighbouring Kaduna State, troops stationed at Gidan Waya in Jema’a Local Government Area responded to an attack on members of the Forest Guards and the Vigilante Group of Nigeria.
The troops, working in collaboration with local security volunteers, pursued the attackers towards the Jaginde Forest axis. On sighting the advancing forces around Ungwar Maruwa, the suspected criminals reportedly abandoned their motorcycle and fled into the bush.
Security operatives subsequently arrested one suspect during the pursuit. A follow-up search of the hideouts in the area led to the recovery of additional weapons, including an AK-47 rifle and an AK-49 rifle, as well as a motorcycle and a sleeping mat believed to have been used by the fleeing suspects.
The arrested individuals are currently in custody and undergoing investigation to ascertain the scope of their operations, including possible links to wider criminal networks involved in arms trafficking and violent activities.
Military authorities said troops have intensified mop-up operations across the affected areas to recover more illegally fabricated weapons and apprehend other members of the criminal group still at large.
The latest operations underscore the commitment of Operation ENDURING PEACE to tackling the root causes of insecurity by targeting sources of illegal arms and dismantling networks that fuel communal violence and other crimes.
The military also called on members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to enhance ongoing efforts aimed at restoring lasting peace and stability in the region.
