The Yobe State Police Command has uncovered an illegal firearms fabrication workshop in Potiskum Local Government Area of Yobe State, leading to the arrest of seven suspected gunmakers.
According to a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, the operation was carried out on Monday following credible intelligence about suspicious activities at a blacksmith workshop along Tasha Adua on Danchuwa Road.
Abdulkarim said officers from the Potiskum Area Command, working alongside personnel from the divisional headquarters, raided the location and arrested the suspects while recovering several items believed to have been used in the illegal production of firearms.
He explained that the command acted on intelligence suggesting that some blacksmiths were engaged in converting tools into locally made weapons.
“The Yobe State Police Command has recorded another significant breakthrough in its sustained efforts to combat crime and criminality across the state,” the statement read.
Items recovered from the scene included two locally fabricated pistols, 24 muzzle pipes, nine gun butts, four unserviceable Dane guns, a filing machine, and a cutlass.
Abdulkarim further noted that the suspects are currently in custody and assisting investigators in identifying possible collaborators, buyers, and the intended purpose of the weapons.
“The operation was carried out following credible intelligence on the activities of some blacksmiths engaged in the illegal fabrication of firearms,” he added.
The Commissioner of Police, Usman Kanfani Jibrin, has ordered a wider investigation to track down other possible illegal workshops and assess the broader security implications of the network.
Authorities also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements or activities to security agencies as investigations continue.
