Police arrest illegal arms manufacturers in Benue

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

The Benue State Police Command has arrested over six suspects for  illegal arms manufacturing, armed robbery and recovered arms.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Steve Hassan Yabanet, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Makurdi.

The Commissioner said after a peaceful Christmas and new year celebration, the Command laid a siege for criminals in their hideouts.

He said in some operations carried out in the last one week, the command arrested six suspects among them, two suspected gun manufacturers at Kwande Local Government Area of the state.

 “Following credible information gathered about criminals manufacturing arms at Mbaafa, Adikpo, Kwande LGA, a team of detectives were deployed to investigate the case.

“On 11/1/2025 at about 1430hrs, police stormed the said factory at Mbaafa and arrested one Friday Aduduakamve and Iorwashima Iornyume A.K.A “AK-35” all ‘m’ of the same address. On the spot search of the factory led to the recovery of nine fabricated pistols, one yet to be completed AK-47 rifle, two gas cylinders, one filing machine, four other machines and many other tools for fabricating rifles.”

The Commissioner also said the operatives arrested another suspected gun manufacturer at Daudu, Guma LGA of the state.

“As police detectives began intelligence gathering on criminal activities in Daudu, information was received that one Meme Ihoon ‘m’ 50yrs was responsible for all shorts of arms being used by kidnappers, armed robbers and cultists in Daudu.

“During investigation, the said suspect was arrested on 10/1/2025 at about 0800 hours and six dane guns and three long pipes used for fabricating guns were recovered from his house. The suspect confessed to have been producing and selling arms. Investigation is ongoing to arrest other criminals connected with the case. “