Rose Ejembi, Makurdi
The Benue State police command has uncovered an illegal arms fabrication factory in Anyuwogbu-Ibilla, Oju Local Government area of the state.
Three persons, identified as Abi Oda, Kingsley Abi and Thomas Ode, were arrested in connection with the illegal arms factory and other offenses.
Commissioner of Police in charge of Benue State, Fatai Owoseni, who led a team of top police officers to Oju, on Tuesday, disclosed that the illegal firearm factory was uncovered in the cause of police investigation of another case.
According to Owoseni, “The Police in Oju were originally investigating a case of abduction and suspected case of rape involving a 15 year old girl and her abductor.
“In the cause of the investigation, one of the suspects was traced and apprehended which later led to the discovery of this illegal arms fabricating factory in the area.
“You have seen the riffles and the modus they adopt in fabricating them. We discovered that when they manufacture the weapons locally, some of the riffles use AK47 ammunition.
Owoseni also said that the owner of the factory, Abi Oda who was arrested with his son, Kingsley, had since confessed to the crime.
He advised the public to always avail the police useful information that could lead to the arrest of criminal elements in their locality.
“The father (prime suspect) has owned up to having and running the workshop. It looked like a normal blacksmith workshop on the outside but if you move to the backyard, you would be amazed at what you would see.
Also speaking with our correspondent, the prime suspect, Oda, who owned up to the crime, however, noted that he was a blacksmith proficient in fabricating cutlasses, hoes, Dane guns and rings.
