Police uncover arms factory in Bauchi

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested two suspects for allegedly operating an illegal arms factory in Bauchi, the state capital.The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, who paraded the suspects and some of their equipment before newsmen said the suspects had been operating the factory since 2007.He said the suspects were arrested when the police, acting on a tip-off, raided a building within Bauchi Township and arrested one Gambo Mohammed and his friend, Alhassan Mohammed.Aduba said two firearms/ammunition manufacturing apparatus, one oxygen gas cylinder, corrugated local implements for arms manufacturing and three locally-made Beretta pistols were recovered from the suspects.Other items recovered from the suspects, according to Aduba, were 27 rounds of ammunition and 10 cartridges.The commissioner said the police first arrested Alhassan for allegedly being a notorious arms dealer in Bauchi.He said, Upon his arrest and interrogation, he voluntarily confessed to selling numerous locally-made pistols at the rate of N60,000 per piece. His confession led the team of detectives to arrest the supplier, Gambo Mohammed, who also voluntarily confessed to establishing and operating a functional illegal firearms/ammunition manufacturing enterprise through which he supplied arms for sale.Aduba said both suspects had provided useful information regarding the names of their customers.He added that investigations were ongoing to apprehend all those involved in the illegal business.The commissioner said while responding to a distress call on October 16, 2011, his men arrested one Suleiman Mohammed at the scene of a robbery. He said the suspect conspired with one Bashiru Ubu, who is still at large to rob their victim.He added that on October 30, the police arrested one Isah Kolo who attacked his brother with a dagger and recovered one locally-made revolver and six rounds of locally made ammunition.The police boss said investigations had been concluded and the suspects would be charged to court soon.
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