Troops of Sector 2 of the Joint Task Force North West, “Operation FANSAN YAMMA”, have dismantled an illegal arms manufacturing syndicate and recovered locally fabricated weapons during an intelligence-led operation in Kebbi State.
The operation, which targeted a concealed compound allegedly used for the production and supply of locally made firearms to terrorist groups, led to the arrest of two suspected arms manufacturers and suppliers.
Addressing newsmen yesterday in Gusau, the media information officer of Joint Task Force (North West) Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lt-Col. Aliyu Danja, said the troops, acting on credible intelligence, conducted a carefully planned raid on the secluded location hidden by the suspects to evade security detection.
He said a thorough search of the premises resulted in the recovery of five locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, while the two suspects were taken into custody for further investigation.
Danja said the operation was carried out in close collaboration with other security agencies, describing it as another demonstration of the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation in disrupting terrorist logistics and criminal networks across the North-West.
He noted that the successful raid represents a significant milestone in Operation FANSAN YAMMA’s ongoing campaign to curb the proliferation of illicit arms and deny terrorists access to weapons used to perpetrate violent attacks.
The suspects are currently undergoing preliminary interrogation in military custody, 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 Commander commended the professionalism and dedication of the troops and partner security agencies involved in the operation. He also appealed to residents of the North-West to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing that public support remains critical to ongoing efforts to eliminate criminal elements and improve security across the region.