Police Bust Illegal Firearms Factory, Arrest 50-Year-Old Suspect in Taraba
By Zagazola Makama
The Taraba State Police Command has dismantled an illegal firearms manufacturing facility in Jalingo and arrested a 50-year-old man suspected of producing locally fabricated weapons.
The operation was conducted at about 6:30 p.m. on August 23, 2026, at Wuro-Mallam CBN, Jalingo, following credible intelligence received by the Police.
Operatives of the State Intelligence Department (SID), State Headquarters, Jalingo, working in collaboration with personnel of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), stormed the location and arrested the suspect, identified as Mamuda Muhammadu Wanzim.
Police said preliminary investigation indicated that the suspect specialised in manufacturing illegal firearms and other weapons.
The operation led to the recovery of four locally made Dane guns, two single-barrel firearms and assorted tools and materials allegedly used for manufacturing the weapons.
The suspect is reportedly cooperating with investigators and has provided information on some alleged buyers and individuals believed to be in possession of illegally manufactured firearms.
The Police said efforts were ongoing to apprehend other suspects linked to the network for possible prosecution.
The discovery is considered significant given the role of illicit firearms in facilitating kidnapping, banditry, communal violence and other violent crimes across the region.
The Command is expected to expand the investigation beyond the manufacturer to identify financiers, suppliers of production materials, distributors and end users of the illegal weapons.
