Troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) have arrested an alleged illegal arms fabricator and three suspected gunrunners during coordinated covert operations in Mangu and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
Available information indicated that the arrests followed intelligence received by the Headquarters of OPEP on October 4 on the activities of suspected illegal arms fabricators and gunrunners operating in the two local government areas.
Consequently, the troops conducted coordinated covert operations between October 7 and 11, targeting the suspected criminal networks and their operational locations.
A military source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the operations led to the arrest of an alleged arms fabricator, identified as Ayuba Sunday Abot, who was reportedly operating in Heipang, Barkin Ladi LGA.
The source said three other suspects, identified as Tangkat Danjuma, Kopdi Appollos and Nyam Nzang, were also arrested over their alleged involvement in illegal arms trafficking in Mangu and Barkin Ladi LGAs.
According to the source, the troops recovered one fabricated revolver rifle, one fabricated pistol, one fabricated AK-47 barrel and one AK-47 magazine during the operations.
The source added that 42 rounds of 7.62 mm x 54 mm rimmed ball ammunition were also recovered, alongside materials described in the operational report as metaphysical items.
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He said preliminary interrogation of the suspects indicated that they allegedly purchased the ammunition at N3,000 per round from a security agent.
The spokesman of Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, also confirmed the arrests to Vanguard.
Oteh said the suspects and all the recovered items had been taken to the Headquarters of Operation Enduring Peace for further investigation.
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