The Yobe State Police Command has dismantled an illegal firearms fabrication workshop in Potiskum Local Government Area and arrested seven suspected gunmakers during a security operation.
The suspects were apprehended on Monday when police operatives raided a blacksmith workshop located at Tasha Adua along Danchuwa Road in Potiskum.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, the operation was carried out by officers of the Potiskum Area Command in collaboration with personnel from the Divisional Police Headquarters following credible intelligence reports.
Abdulkarim said the police received information that some blacksmiths in the area were allegedly involved in the illegal production of firearms, prompting a targeted raid on the workshop.
During the operation, security operatives recovered several items believed to be linked to the illegal manufacture of weapons. Exhibits seized included two locally fabricated pistols, 24 muzzle pipes, nine gun butts, four unserviceable Dane guns, a filing machine, and a cutlass.
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The police spokesperson described the operation as a major breakthrough in the command’s ongoing efforts to combat crime and curb the proliferation of illegal arms across the state.
He disclosed that the suspects are currently in custody and undergoing interrogation as investigators work to uncover possible collaborators, identify buyers, and determine the intended use of the weapons.
Abdulkarim further revealed that the Commissioner of Police in Yobe State, Usman Kanfani Jibrin, has ordered an expanded investigation into the case. The investigation is expected to identify other illegal firearm fabrication centres operating within the state and assess the broader security risks associated with such activities.
The command also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and continue providing useful information to security agencies, stressing that community cooperation remains essential in tackling criminal activities and improving public safety.
