Troops neutralise five armed criminals, destroy illegal weapons factory in Cross River

By: Zagazola Makama 

Troops of the 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have neutralised five armed criminals and uncovered an illegal weapons manufacturing factory during ongoing operations in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River.

The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 13 Brigade, Maj. Yemi Sokoya, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Calabar.

Sokoya said the operation was conducted in Odonget Community as part of follow-up actions after troops were earlier ambushed while responding to a distress call arising from a communal dispute in the area.

He said the troops, operating under the Headquarters 82 Division Nigerian Army, carried out aggressive cordon-and-search operations and fighting patrols between March 12 and March 13 to track down those responsible for the attack.

“On March 13, troops made contact with the armed miscreants within the general area and engaged them in a firefight, during which five of the attackers were neutralised, while others fled,” he said.

Sokoya said further exploitation of the area led to the discovery of an illegal gun manufacturing factory believed to have been used by criminal elements to fabricate weapons used for violent activities in the locality.

He said a thorough search of the factory led to the recovery of three AK-47 rifle magazines, 10 locally fabricated weapons and a toolbox containing weapon-manufacturing equipment.

“The illegal arms production site was subsequently destroyed to prevent its continued use by criminal elements,” he said.

According to him, the Commander, 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Patrick Alimikhena, who personally supervised the operation, commended the troops for their gallantry and professionalism.

Sokoya said the brigade commander reassured residents that the army remained committed to maintaining peace and stability in the area.

He added that troops would sustain aggressive operations, heightened surveillance and continuous patrols to track down fleeing criminals and prevent further threats to law-abiding citizens.

Sokoya urged members of the public to support security agencies with timely and credible information to assist ongoing efforts to rid the area of criminal elements.