Police Disrupt Illegal Firearms Manufacturing Facility In Yobe State

The suspects were apprehended on Monday following a raid on a blacksmith workshop located at Tasha Adua along Danchuwa Road in Potiskum. The operation was carried out by operatives of the Potiskum Area Command in collaboration with officers from the Divisional Police Headquarters after receiving credible intelligence on suspected illegal arms production activities in the area.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, the command described the operation as a significant breakthrough in its ongoing efforts to combat crime and curb the proliferation of illegal weapons within the state. He explained that security personnel acted swiftly based on intelligence reports indicating that some blacksmiths were allegedly involved in the illicit manufacture of firearms.

During the raid, officers recovered several items believed to be linked to illegal arms production. The exhibits include two fabricated pistols, 24 muzzle pipes, nine gun butts, four unserviceable Dane guns, a filing machine, and a cutlass. All recovered materials have been secured as investigations continue.

Abdulkarim stated that the seven suspects are currently in police custody and undergoing interrogation to determine the extent of their involvement, possible collaborators, and the distribution network for the weapons allegedly produced at the facility. He added that investigators are also examining how long the workshop had been in operation and whether the firearms were supplied to criminal elements.

The Commissioner of Police, Usman Kanfani Jibrin, has reportedly ordered a wider investigation into the incident, aimed at identifying other suspected illegal firearms production centres and assessing the broader security implications of such activities.

The command further urged residents of Yobe State to remain vigilant and support security agencies by providing timely and useful information. It emphasized that community cooperation remains vital in tackling crime, particularly in detecting and disrupting illegal arms manufacturing and circulation.