Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have smashed the production of local rifles and pistols by some unscrupulous elements in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In a statement on Wednesday, the NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, said that the criminal attempt was foiled through a tip-off and the NSCDC Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation who were under Surveillance and Monitoring ( DII-SM) swung into action and apprehended the suspects.
He said: @Acting on a top off that a group of individuals were manufacturing Semi-automatic Rifles and Pistols at Moshood Abiola National Stadium area in Abuja; the DII-SM acted based on credible intelligence and the seven suspects were caught in the act”.
The names of the Suspects, he gave as: Amos Iyawo (M) aged 29 years, Jonah Mannaseh (M) aged 27years, Ezekiel Nannim (M) 20years, Naifa Pando (F) 26years, Euphemia Peter (M) 26years, Faith Gadang (F) and Philemon Karam (F) 26years.
He noted that: “From the confessional statements volunteered by the suspects, we gathered that Amos Iyawo is the leader of the team and that he recruited others to participate as manufacturers of the Rifles.
“He further intimated to us that none of the Rifles or Pistols have been sold out as the production just commenced”.
He said during interrogations, the suspect confessed that he found the locally made pistol while on operations with the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) at Durumi in Abuja”.
Babawale said the DII-SM recovered five already fabricated Rifles,1 Pisto, 1 unfinished Rifle, 7 empty Cartridges, 2 boots, rods, welding machine, filling machine,2 Searchlight, 3 pliers, Shovel, Cutlass and Axes, Hunters ID card and belt from the suspects and all exhibits with the suspects would be handed over to the Nigerian Police for further investigation and possible prosecution because the Nigerian Police has the prosecutorial mandate in cases of Proliferation of small arms and ammunition, illegal possession of arms and ammunition and unauthorized production of same.
The spokesman said: “Let me at this point intimate to the public that the Security Agencies across the nation are strongly in scientific collaborations to salvage the country from the hands of criminal-minded persons”.
“The NSCDC Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi mni, OFR has also given a marching order to all Zonal Commanders, State Commandants and heads of formations on the need for prompt Intelligence Gathering which remains the bedrock of any Security organization”.
“Dr Audi hinted that the eagle eyes of the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad and CG’s Mining Marshall newly commissioned by the Honourable Minister of Interior Dr Tunji Olubunmi-Ojo would be all out to frustrate and combat all acts of Crude oil theft, illegal dealings in Petroleum products, illegal mining, Vandalism of Public Utilities amongst others across the nation at large”
“He also urged the public to continue to have confidence in the Corps and other Security agencies by giving actionable intelligence and credible information that would lead to the arrests of those sabotaging the efforts of the Federal Government in actualizing the Renewed Hope agenda”.
