Troops arrest 2 suspected gunrunners, seize weapons in Plateau

Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), the military taskforce responsible for peacekeeping in Plateau and its surroundings, has apprehended two individuals suspected of gun manufacturing in Vom, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau.

According to Captain James Oya, the Media Officer of OPSH, during a press conference in Jos on Saturday, troops from the taskforce discovered a clandestine gun factory operated by the two suspects and seized newly-manufactured weapons.

The arrested individuals, Micheal Dung (33) and Yusuf Pam (43), have been found to engage in selling firearms to customers across different parts of the country.

The seized arsenal includes six AK-47 rifles, three skeleton AK-47 rifles, one locally-made pistol, 11 rifle bodies, seven bridge blocks, and four magazines.

Additionally, the troops recovered 210 springs, seven rifle butts, eight rifle muzzles, nine piston assemblies, five cartridge housings, one drilling machine, and a hand filing machine.

Upon completion of the investigations, the suspects will be promptly charged in court.

Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, the Commander of OPSH, commended the dedication, courage, and unwavering efforts of the troops in safeguarding lives and property on the Plateau.

The taskforce reaffirms its commitment to maintaining an aggressive stance against criminal elements in Plateau.

During an interview with the media, the prime suspect, Dung, admitted to his involvement in the illegal arms trade for six years. He mentioned acquiring his skills from his late employer and disclosed that his clientele primarily hails from Mangu in Plateau.

Dung revealed that the price range for his firearms varied between N80,000 and N200,000, depending on the type of weapon.