Following a week-long intelligence operation in line with the Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) Nigerian troops have uncovered a gun manufacturing factory in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The operation led to the capture of a wanted gunrunner Napoleon John who has been on the wanted list of OPSH. The suspect who confessed to the crime led troops to a concealed factory where arms of different calibre were sold by another miscreant identified as Monday Dunia, who confessed to have been in the business for more than five years fuelling the crisis in Kaduna and neighbouring Plateau States.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Armoured Division, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar had resolved to deal decisively with sponsors and perpetrators of crime as well as mopping up illicit weapons in OPSH Joint Operations Area,
A thorough search by Nigerian troops of the factory led to the recovery of 22 different weapons to include 7 pistols, 2 locally fabricated AK 47 rifles, 2 military grade AK 47 rifles and 9 revolvers. Others include one submachine gun, rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, machine tools and a gas cylinder.
Between midnight of yesterday up till early hours of today, September 22, 2033, troops raided another hideout in Adua 1 village in Kafanchan and captured additional 2 x AK-47 Rifles, 2 x revolver rifles, live rounds of 9mm and 7.62 ammunitions, 6 x dangerous daggers, one x hacker axe, several empty cases of 7.62mm special rounds, 2 mobile phones, one fragmental jacket, 2 Police uniforms, one military camouflage trousers, one ammunition magazine carrier, one pistol holster, one military grade camel pouch, one police combat helmet, 2 masks, 4 identity cards, gunpowder, shrapnels, charms and amulets.
The major kingpin(name withheld) is still on the run but would soon be apprehended, as other machine tools and equipment were impounded at his hideout.