By Nkechi Eze
Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE have dismantled an illegal arms manufacturing facility in Plateau State and recovered assorted weapons and equipment used for the production of illicit firearms, while also arresting a suspect and seizing additional arms in a separate operation in Kaduna State.
According to an official signed statement by the Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, Captain Chinonso Oteh, the raid was carried out at about 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 22 April 2026, in Gwandanu Village, Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The operation led to the arrest of two suspects who were allegedly caught in the act of fabricating sophisticated firearms. Troops also recovered a cache of weapons and manufacturing equipment, including two AK-47 rifles, one G3 rifle, two generating sets, a welding machine, a drilling machine, a hand filler, and a set of technical tools used in the illicit production process.
In a related development, troops deployed at Gidan Waya in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State responded to an armed attack on members of the Forest Guards and the Vigilante Group of Nigeria. The assailants were reportedly pursued in collaboration with the Forest Guards towards the Jaginde Forest axis.
According to the statement, the suspects abandoned a motorcycle and fled into the bush upon sighting advancing troops around Ungwar Maruwa. One suspect was subsequently intercepted and arrested, while a search of their hideouts led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, one AK-49 rifle, a motorcycle, and a sleeping mat.
The arrested suspects are currently in custody undergoing investigation to determine the extent of their operations, possible distribution networks, and links to wider criminal syndicates.
Following the successful interventions, troops have intensified mop-up operations across the affected areas to recover additional locally fabricated weapons and track fleeing suspects.
The Joint Task Force noted that the operations underscore its sustained commitment to restoring peace and stability within the Area of Responsibility by targeting sources of armed violence and criminality. It also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to support ongoing security operations.
