IN ABUJA, THE NSCDC ARRESTS SUSPECTED MAKERS OF ILLEGAL FIREARMS

Babatunji Wusu –

Seven people have been detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on suspicion of manufacturing illicit handguns and rifles in Abuja.
In a statement made public on Wednesday (today), Babawale Afolabi, the National Public Relations Officer for the NSCDC, stated that a tip-off was the reason the illegal activity was stopped.

Afolabi stated that the suspects were apprehended by the NSCDC Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation after they responded to the information with promptness.

“Acting on a tip-off that a group of individuals were manufacturing semi-automatic rifles and pistols at Moshood Abiola National Stadium area in Abuja, the DII-SM acted based on credible intelligence, and the 7 suspects were caught in the act,” Daily Trust quoted the NSCDC spokesperson saying.

The suspects were identified as Amos Iyawo (M) aged 29 years, Jonah Mannaseh (M) aged 27 years, Ezekiel Nannim (M) 20 years, Naifa Pando (F) 26 years, Euphemia Peter (M) 26 years, Faith Gadang (F) and Philemon Karam (F) 26 years.

“From the confessional statements volunteered by the suspects, we gathered that Amos Iyawo is the leader of the team and that he recruited others to participate as manufacturers of the rifles,” the statement added.

The security agency’s findings showed that just recently have rifles and pistols been manufactured; none had been sold.

Five finished rifles, a handgun, an unfinished rifle, seven empty cartridges, two boots, rods, a welding machine, a filling machine, two searchlights, three pliers, a shovel, cutlass, axes, a hunter’s ID card, and a belt were discovered to be among the suspects’ belongings.

The announcement states that the Nigerian Police would receive all of the seized goods for additional investigation and possible legal action.

Since then, all Zonal Commanders, State Commandants, and formation heads have received instructions from Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, the Commandant General of the NSCDC, to emphasize prompt intelligence gathering.