From John Bassey, Kebbi
Troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA (OPFY), have dismantled a criminal syndicate involved in the manufacture and supply of locally fabricated firearms to terrorist groups operating in Kebbi State.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North West), Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, and made available to journalists in Birnin Kebbi.
According to the statement, the operation followed credible intelligence, which led troops to a secluded compound allegedly used by the suspects to manufacture and conceal illegal firearms in a bid to evade security detection.
During a thorough search of the premises, the troops recovered five locally fabricated AK-47 rifles and arrested two suspected arms manufacturers and suppliers.
The military said the operation, carried out in collaboration with other security agencies, underscores the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation in disrupting terrorist logistics and dismantling criminal networks across the North-West.
It described the successful raid as another major milestone in Operation FANSAN YAMMA’s sustained efforts to curb the proliferation of illicit arms and deny terrorists access to weapons used to perpetrate violent attacks.
The two suspects are currently in military custody and undergoing preliminary interrogation, while investigations have commenced to identify and apprehend other members of the syndicate, uncover their financiers and collaborators, and dismantle the entire illegal arms supply network.
The Theatre Command commended the professionalism and commitment of the troops and partner security agencies involved in the operation.
It also urged residents of the North-West to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing that public cooperation remains crucial to ongoing efforts to eliminate criminal elements and enhance security across the region.
