By Abimbola Ogunnaike
The 63 Brigade of the Nigeria Army has confirmed that it discovered an illegal gun factory in Onicha Olona community, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta state.
The Commander, 63 Brigade Brigadier General, Ugochukwu Unachukwu, who stated this at the illegal arms factory site, said that the factory can produce ten guns per week.
“Eight suspects involved in the family business including the mastermind of the operation, his father, mother, and sister were among those arrested at the factory.
“The arms factory located in a forest has a surveillance post, a generating set connected from a remote location, an oven for melting of iron, and a cache of arms and ammunition.
“We have recovered items for the manufacturing of improvised explosive devices IEDs including shrapnels, detonators, and the container”
The army commander said the activities of the suspects were a major contributor to insecurity in the region and the country.
“In this axis, it is only IPOB and Eastern security networks that use improvised explosive devices and even drones.
“A normal AK-47 magazine carries 30 rounds, but this man is modifying an AK-47 magazine to carry 60 rounds.
“Anybody that is involved in an act of insurgency that is against the peace and stability of Nigeria, we will get to you,” he added.
The prime suspect, 22-year-old Emmanuel Eboka, admitted to having rented some of the arms to criminal elements for set fees.
Last September, operatives of the Delta State Police Command rescued four kidnapped victims in the forests of Orerokpe community in Okpe Local Government Area. (https://punchng.com/police-rescue-kidnapped-victims-arrest-gun-dealers-in-delta/)
It was gathered that their rescue followed a distress call to the Orerokpe Divisional Police on September 11, 2023, at about 0400hrs that the four persons (names withheld) who are residents of the community on transit along Abraka-Eku Expressway had been abducted by Orerokpe Bridge with the kidnappers demanding N10m ransom.
