Army apprehends gun manufacturers in Benue

Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS have arrested a syndicate specialised in manufacturing local weapons in Benue State.

According to the Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke Maj. Gen Adeyemi Yekini said that two(2) men, namely Atii Cephas and Mnzuga Teryila were arrested following intelligence report given to his troops in Anyiin, Logo and Ukum local government areas.

Gen. Yekini while parading the suspect told newsmen that about five (5)weeks ago, headquarters of Operation Whirl Stroke received a report of some weapon manufacturers operating between Anyiin, Logo and Ukum LGAs.

“On getting the report, our intelligence team set out to investigate and after four(4) weeks of surveillance, we were able to arrest the culprits.”

However, the Sector Commander of OPWS in charge of Logo and Ukum areas Capt. Samuel Okenarhe said on receipt of information on a weapon manufacturing syndicate, they set out to trail them

“On 24th March 2019, we got information that two (2) persons had AK47 in Anyiin town but before we got there, I heard that some of the locals were already lynching one of them. On sighting us, they ran away and we arrested the person with AK47 and when we interrogated him, he told us that the manufacturers the weapons were in Tine Unune in Ukum LGA.

“Same evening, we got another report that the suspect who ran away was seen roaming about his house and we laid ambush and got him that night in Zaki Biam Ukum LGA. He led us to the second manufacturing plant. We raided the place and recovered several weapons that are in different stages of manufacturing,” Capt. Okenarhe said.

When interviewed by newsmen, Cephas Atii who is in his mid-50s said he started the act of manufacturing weapons about two (2) years ago after his return from studies abroad and was faced with financial difficulties.

“I studied engineering in Telecommunication but has no job. I needed to do something to make money. I learnt arms manufacturing in Mauritania in less than five (5) years

“I have so far supplied over 16 arms including pistols which goes for 50,000.00 naira and AK47 which is sold for between 320,000.00 and 350,000.00 naira,” Atii stated.

On how he was arrested, Cephas said he had travelled to his home town Anyiin from his base in Wukari Taraba State where he met his waterloo.

Gen. Yekini said that investigation was ongoing as they were still on the trail of other members of the group who were on the run.