The Enugu State Police Command has uncovered and dismantled an illegal firearms fabrication and repair workshop in Udi Local Government Area.
According to a statement issued Tuesday by the command’s spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, the raid led to the recovery of several weapons and tools, including a locally made cut-to-size single-barrel gun, two English-made double-barrel guns, eight single-barrel guns, as well as two live and eight expended cartridges.
Other seized items include three generator sets and various tools used in fabricating and maintaining firearms.
Ndukwe described the discovery as a major breakthrough in the command’s ongoing campaign to curb illegal arms proliferation and related criminal activities in the state.
“On June 30, at about 4 p.m., operatives of the Command’s Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad, acting on credible intelligence, raided and dismantled the workshop located in Amofia-Agu Affa community in Udi LGA.
“The operation followed the arrest and confession of one Ekene Okafor, 32, a member of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity, earlier apprehended for conspiracy, armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms.
“The suspect led operatives to the workshop, where his locally made cut-to-size gun was being serviced by the workshop’s owner, who fled upon sighting the operatives.
“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing owner of the workshop,” he said.
Ndukwe said that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa, had commended police operatives for the breakthrough.
The spokesman said that the commissioner also reassured residents of the command’s commitment to combating illegal firearms proliferation and related crimes.
“The command wants members of the public to remain vigilant, law-abiding and to continue providing credible information to the police,” he added
