On Tuesday, Brigadier General Ugochukwu Unachukwu, the Commander of the 63 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, announced that the military had uncovered an illicit firearms manufacturing facility in the Onicha Olona community of Aniocha North Local Government Area in Delta State.
Among those apprehended at the clandestine factory were a father, mother, sister, and brother. According to military sources, the facility has the capacity to produce 10 firearms per week.
While speaking at the site of the illegal arms manufacturing operation, Unachukwu disclosed that the main suspect, 22-year-old Emmanuel Eboka, confessed to renting out some of the firearms to criminal elements in exchange for specified fees.
Brigadier General Ugochukwu Unachukwu said: “Eight suspects involved in the family business, including the mastermind, of the operation, his father, mother and sister, were among those arrested at the factory.
“The arms factory located in a forest has a surveillance post, a generator connected from a remote location, an oven for melting of iron and a cache of arms and ammunition.
“We have recovered items for the manufacturing of improvised explosive devices IEDs including shrapnels, detonators and the container.”
The army commander emphasized that the actions of the suspects significantly exacerbated insecurity in both the region and the nation as a whole.
