The Joint
Task Force (JTF)) deployed to protect oil installations in the Niger Delta
announced on Monday that it raided a firearms factory in the Niger Delta, where
various calibers of light firearms were made.
The
commander of the JTF operation, codenamed Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral
Suleiman Apochi, said that troops of the task force discovered the camp in
Arhavwarien community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
He said that
the troops approached the local arms makers in a sting operation and placed
orders for some single-barrel guns.
Briefing
reporters of the series of raids conducted over the weekend, Land Component
Commander of the JTF, Col. Moses Grema, said that three suspects were arrested
after troops engaged them in a shootout upon raiding the facility.
“Three
principal suspects were arrested following a shootout with the suspects. Items
recovered from them include 13 short-barrel locally made guns, five
double-barrel locally made guns, and 10 locally made pistols. Others are three
live cartridges, one empty cartridge, and two rounds of 7.62 mm special
ammunition," Mr. Grema said.
He added
that in another development, troops arrested a 50-year-old for the alleged
theft and sale of an oil wellhead popularly called “Christmas Tree” along with
other wellhead accessories.
Saharareporters reported that the colonel
said that the wellhead was stolen from an oilfield operated by an international
oil company.
He said that
troops also arrested a 42-year-old oil theft suspect who has been on the wanted
list of the security agencies in the region.
Mr. Grema
said that 10 checkbooks, an international passport, five different identity
cards and N1,000,100 in cash were amongst items recovered from the suspect..
He applauded
the members of the public for their assistance with timely information and
urged them to sustain the support.
0 Comments