The Benue State Police Command has uncovered two illegal gun factories in Guma and Kwande Local Government Areas. This operation led to the arrest of three suspects involved in manufacturing weapons.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Steve Yabanet, shared the update during a press briefing in Makurdi on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. He explained that the police acted on reliable information about arms production in Mbaafa, Adikpo, Kwande Local Government Area. Two suspects, identified as Friday Aduduakamve and Iorwashima Iornyume, were arrested at the scene.
“On 11/1/2025 at about 1430hrs, police stormed the said factory at Mbaafa and arrested one Friday Aduduakamve and Iorwashima Iornyume AKA “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,” he stated.
Another gun factory was also discovered in Daudu, Guma, where more weapons were recovered.
In separate operations, the police arrested three additional suspects for armed robbery and other crimes in Kwande and Makurdi.
The police continue to intensify efforts to combat crime and maintain security in 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 short arms have been used by kidnappers, armed robbers and cultists in Daudu.
“During investigation, the said suspect was arrested on 10/1/2025 at about 0800 hours six (6) Dane guns and three (3) 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,” he added.
“On 05/01/2025 at about 130hrs, three brothers embarked on a journey to Kwande for their personal business. They boarded a motorcycle from Obudu LGA of Cross River State to Adikpo but the cyclist decided to divert 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 cohort still chased them to the bush and robbed them of the French currency (CFA franc) and naira they had.
“They also raised alarm and a mob lynched one of the victims, one sustained grievous injuries while the other escaped. Two perpetrators one Terhemba Abugh ‘m’ and Shima Terseer ‘m’ of the same address were arrested. Investigation is ongoing to arrest other suspects involved in this barbaric act.
“Following an armed robbery incident reported on 12/01/2025 at about 2150hrs, the Police Patrol team within the area moved swiftly and arrested one Aondoseer Nguetar ‘m’ of Agan North Bank Makurdi. Who confessed to the crime. The investigation is ongoing to arrest other suspects at large.
“I call on parents, religious leaders and traditional rulers to join us in the fight against criminality as there is a need to continue to train young people on cultural and religious values. This will help us check the excesses we are seeing today.”
