On Tuesday, January 14, the Benue State Police Command revealed that they had uncovered two illegal gun manufacturing factories in the state, located in Guma and Kwande local government areas.
According to a statement from the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Steve Yabanet, the discovery was made following reliable information about criminals producing weapons in the Mbaafa area of Adikpo, Kwande LGA. Police detectives were immediately deployed to investigate the situation.
On January 11, police raided a gun factory in Mbaafa, arresting two suspects, Friday Aduduakamve and Iorwashima Iornyume, also known as AK-35. During the search, the police recovered nine homemade pistols and an unfinished AK-47 rifle.
The team also uncovered a second gun manufacturing site in Daudu, Guma LGA, where additional weapons were found.
In Daudu, police had gathered intelligence about criminal activities and received information that 50-year-old Meme Ihoon was behind the production of firearms used by kidnappers, robbers, and cult members in the area. Ihoon was arrested on January 10, and during the search of his home, officers recovered six dane guns and three long pipes used for making firearms.
Ihoon admitted to making and selling illegal guns, and the investigation is ongoing as authorities work to apprehend other suspects involved in the criminal network.
