The Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says it has discovered a firearms factory within the territory.

In a statement issuedon Fridayin Abuja, the FCT Police Commissioner, CP Sadiq Abubakar Bello, disclosed that following intelligence and discreet Police investigation, operatives of the Command have uncovered an illegal firearm fabricating factory located around Shenagu village near Zuba.

The CP said: “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.

He also disclosed that 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. In his statement, he narrated that he started the illicit deal since 1997 and that he sells a pack containing 25 pieces of live cartridge for N12,000, while single cartridge goes for N500. He further confessed that he gets his supply from Onitsha.”

According to the Police, Joseph Bulus, “The major link that connects the principal suspect with potential buyers of the fabricated firearms, was arrested at Zuba.

“In another case, 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 berretta 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 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.

“Meanwhile, 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 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.”