Troops of the Nigerian Army have uncovered an illegal arms manufacturing factory in Heipang District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Plateau State, arresting a suspected fabricator and seizing a cache of weapons and ammunition.
According to Media Information Officer JTF Operation ENDURING PEACE Major Samson Nantip Zhakom, the raid, carried out on September 17, 2025, by troops of 3 Division/Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace, followed an intelligence-led operation targeted at curbing the spread of illicit arms in the region.
According to military sources, the troops stormed the facility where a suspected gunsmith was apprehended, while other members of the syndicate fled before the soldiers arrived.
A search of the factory yielded a significant haul, including 12 assorted fabricated weapons, one fabricated pistol, 19 rounds of PKT ammunition, 12 cartridges, 10 rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition, 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition, four rounds of 7.62mm (NATO), one round of QJC ammunition, a smoke grenade, two fragmental jackets, a Motorola handheld radio, a jack knife, and a bucket of assorted medicines.
The arrested suspect and recovered items are now in custody, with investigations ongoing. Security operatives have also launched a manhunt for the fleeing members of the illegal weapons syndicate.
Military authorities have urged residents of Plateau and surrounding areas to continue providing timely and credible intelligence, stressing that such cooperation is vital to ending arms proliferation and denying criminal groups the freedom to operate.
