The 102 Guards Battalion of the Nigerian Army said on Tuesday that it arrested a 72-year-old man (names withheld) for allegedly operating a gun factory.
Captain Charles Ekeocha, the Public Relations Officer of the brigade, said this while briefing journalists in Suleja, Niger State.
Ekeocha said that men of the brigade discovered the factory while on “cordon and search” operations in Paiko and Kache areas in Niger State.
The spokesman said items recovered from the suspect included 44 Dane guns, three pistols and different tools for fabrication of guns and assorted weapons.
He said: “Initial preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect still has three more local guns factories located within Gwagwalada and Bwari areas of FCT.
“The septuagenarian and exhibits will be handed over to the Department of State Security for further investigation and prosecution.”
Ekeocha appealed to members of the public to give useful information to security agencies to assist them in stamping out crime and undesirable element from the society.
The suspect, who spoke through an interpreter, said he had been in the trade for close to 45 years.
According to him, he sells the guns for prices ranging from N3,000 to N5,000 to his customers, especially hunters and vigilance group members.
Asked whether he has a licence to operate the gun factory, he said it had expired.
He said: “I sell my guns to anybody who comes around.
“If I get out of this, I will not go back to the business.”
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