Police in Lagos discover arms factory
The Lagos Police have discovered an arms manufacturing facility in the Idata Community, Ibeju-Lekki neighborhood of Lagos.
Two blacksmiths, Owolabi Azeez, 22, and Musiliu Gbenga, 21, were taken into custody.
Alongside thirty other defendants, they were paraded for offenses like cultism, theft, and unlawful gun ownership. They were accused of selling the fake weapons to lawbreakers.
The arrests were made within a month, according to Benjamin Hundeyin, the command’s spokesman, who was parading the suspects at the Lagos State Police Command conference hall in Ikeja, Lagos.
He gave an explanation of how the gun manufacturing plant was found, saying that “operatives of the Command busted a blacksmith who manufactured firearms for onward sale to criminals around Idata Village in Ibeju-Lekki based on actionable intelligence.”
“Among the items recovered from the factory were two drilling machines, one gas cylinder, one vehicle, three single-barrel locally made pistols, one double-barrel locally made gun, one single-barrel locally made gun, two single-barrel locally made long guns, ten spent cartridges, and twelve long pipes.”
According to him, one of the suspects was a notable cultist who was wanted and went by the name Skipo. He was apprehended on October 11, 2023, at approximately 11:45 p.m., for allegedly helping to kill a rival cultist who was hiding in the Yaba region of Lagos State.
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“Ganiu Yusuf, also known as Skipo, was arrested with two 9mm cartridges,” the statement read. A follow-up investigation resulted in the arrest of Ikuologbon Tobi, also known as Iku, who was 23 years old; Salaudeen Azeez, 27; Sanni Jamiu, also known as J-boy, 26; Ganiu Muideen, also known as Stone, 23; Odinaka Ojiakor, 26; and Farouk Muibi, also known as Ozil, 22; all of whom were found in possession of two locally manufactured single barrel guns, one double barrel shotgun, three live cartridges, a dagger, and various charms. An investigation showed that they are all followers of a cult.
He stated that on October 13, 2023, the next day, five alleged cultists were taken into custody following reports that several boy groups were intermittently firing in the vicinity of Church Avenue, Ikosi.
Four traders who had been taken into custody in Alaba Market were included in the parade of suspects. They are 19-year-old Emmanuel Chukwuma, 19-year-old Chima Alajemba, 42-year-old Ogbenna Franklin, and 42-year-old Chidi Nnaji.
They were taken into custody as a result of complaints received about the adulteration and sale of counterfeit cables bearing the brand of a respectable electrical cable manufacturer.
Additionally, a 27-year-old guy named Ogbonna Eze was detained by command personnel after he pretended to be an assigned rider and vandalized cars by removing parts such as brain boxes. After the investigation is complete, the suspects will be arraigned in court, he stated.
In order to avoid being arrested, he advised Laqgosians who were in unlawful possession of firearms to turn them up. He pointed out that this was in accordance with the Inspector-General of Police’s (IGP) directive to all commands to seize weapons and ammunition that were in the possession of non-state actors inside their respective areas of control.
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