RismadarVoice Reporters, August 3, 2026
The Benue State Police Command has dismantled two illegal firearm manufacturing factories in Buruku and Kwande Local Government Areas of the state and arrested suspected gunrunners in separate operations.
The Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiobu, disclosed this on Friday in Makurdi while briefing journalists on the command’s recent operational successes in tackling violent crime across the state.
Nwadiobu said operatives raided an illegal firearm manufacturing facility in Buruku LGA, where one suspect was arrested and two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, alongside firearm-making tools and accessories, were recovered.
He said another operation in Adikpo, Kwande LGA, resulted in the arrest of another suspect and the recovery of five locally fabricated pistols.
According to the commissioner, the suspects remain in police custody and would be arraigned after investigations are concluded.
In a separate operation, the command said it also dismantled a suspected armed robbery gang linked to a series of violent crimes in Buruku and neighbouring communities.
Nwadiobu said operatives of the Operation Zenda Crack Squad, acting on credible intelligence received on July 13, 2026, arrested 35-year-old Ephraim Tertseagh Yough, who was allegedly conducting surveillance ahead of another attack.
The suspect, according to the police, subsequently provided information that led operatives to the gang’s hideout at Kusuv in Buruku LGA.
A follow-up operation conducted in the early hours of July 16 led to the arrest of five additional suspects, while one K2 rifle and a cutlass allegedly used by the gang were recovered.
The commissioner said preliminary investigations linked the suspects to several alleged armed robbery incidents, violent attacks and killings, including the murder of a trader in Buruku LGA in December 2025.
He added that investigations were ongoing to establish the full extent of the group’s activities and apprehend other members who remained at large.
Nwadiobu urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing security agencies with timely and credible information to help prevent crime and protect lives and property.
