Police uncover ‘illegal arms factory’ in Cross River, arrest nine suspects

The Cross River police command says it has uncovered an illegal arms factory producing guns and explosives at Osomba community in Akamkpa LGA of the state.

Irene Ugbo, the command’s spokesperson, said a team of anti-cultism and kidnapping squad, led by Ogini Chukwuma, raided the factory and recovered a cache of arms on Monday.

Ugbo said the operation led to the recovery of remote-controlled improvised explosives devices (IEDs), detonators, and several automatic weapons.

She said dozens of locally-made double-barrel guns and pistols were also recovered at the illegal arms factory.

She said nine suspects were apprehended at the factory, adding that those arrested were “known gun runners”.

“Once we are done with our investigation they would be charged to court,” she said.

“This is a pure act of terrorism for them to be making explosives right inside a community with highly sophisticated remote donators, indicators, and so on.

“It’s a huge breakthrough for the command and we are not relenting in our quest to rid the state of crimes and criminalities, as a matter of fact, we have taken the war to the criminals.”