By EMMANUEL ANTSWEN

The Benue State Command of the Nigerian Police Force says it has uncovered two gun manufacturing factories in Guma and Kwande local government areas of the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Steve Yabanet, made the disclosure in a statement on Tuesday in Makurdi.

Yabanet said that following the peaceful Christmas and New Year celebration, the command decided to maintain a peaceful atmosphere by going after criminals in their hideouts.

The CP stated that through credible information about criminals manufacturing arms at Mbaafa, Adikpo, Kwande LGA, a team of detectives was deployed to investigate the case.

He said that on Jan. 11, police stormed a gun factory at Mbaafa and arrested one Friday Aduduakamve and Iorwashima Iornyume, aka ?AK-35,? both of the same address.

?Police searched the factory and recovered 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 team also uncovered another gun manufacturing factory in Daudu, Guma LGA, and recovered arms.

?As police detectives began intelligence gathering on criminal activities in Daudu, information was received that one Meme Ihoon, 50 years old, was responsible for all short arms being used by kidnappers, armed robbers, and cultists in Daudu.

?During the investigation, the said suspect was arrested on Jan. 10; six dane guns and three long pipes used for fabricating guns were recovered from his house.

?The suspect confessed to having been producing and selling arms. Investigation is ongoing to arrest other criminals connected with the case,? he said.

Yabanet further said that three brothers from Obudu LGA of Cross River embarked on a journey to Kwande but were robbed by the motorcyclist who was conveying them.

The CP said the motorcyclist diverted them to a different destination and called his gang members to rob them.

?Unknowing to him that one of them understood the language in which he spoke. He explained to his brothers that the cyclist was planning evil against them, so they ran away.

?The cyclist and his cohorts still chased them to the bush and robbed them of the French currency (CFA franc) and naira they had.

?They also lynched one of the victims; one sustained grievous injuries while the other escaped,? he said.

He said two perpetrators, Terhemba Abugh and Shima Terseer, of the same address, were arrested in connection to the crime.

The CP called on parents, religious leaders, and traditional rulers to join them in the fight against criminality, as there was a need to train young people on cultural and religious values. (NAN)

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