Residents of Agwatashi (Olosoho) community in Obi Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, have denied the Nigerian Army’s claim that an illegal arms manufacturing site was found in their area. The community described the report as a mistaken identity and demanded a correction. The statement was signed by the community’s youth leader, Aliyu Adokwe, and made available to journalists on Sunday.

The reaction followed a statement from Lt. Ahmad Zubairu, Acting Media Officer of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), who claimed that troops uncovered a site used for fabricating pistols and other firearms in Agwatashi, allegedly supplying weapons to criminal elements. According to the military, items recovered included pistols, tools, cash, and a mobile phone, and the site was reportedly in Doma Local Government Area.

Adokwe clarified that Agwatashi (Olosoho) is in Obi LGA, while Agbashi, the location mentioned in the military report, is a separate settlement in Doma LGA. He emphasized that Agwatashi (Olosoho) is peaceful and has never been linked to criminal activity or illegal arms production, adding that no security agency has conducted any such operation in the community.

The youth leader called the report damaging to the community’s reputation and demanded an immediate retraction. He warned that if the military failed to correct the error, Agwatashi (Olosoho) would pursue legal action to defend its name. “We see this as an attempt to tarnish our good name, and we demand a clear statement to set the record straight,” Adokwe said.