Troops of Sector 2 of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have dismantled a Kebbi illegal arms factory, recovering five locally fabricated AK-47 rifles and arresting two suspected gun manufacturers allegedly linked to the supply of weapons to terrorist groups. The operation followed actionable intelligence and forms part of ongoing military efforts to disrupt illegal arms production and weaken terrorist logistics across Nigeria’s North-West region.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Media Information Officer of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Aliyu Danja, said troops carried out a carefully coordinated operation on a secluded compound believed to have been used for the illegal production and storage of firearms. According to him, the location had been deliberately concealed to avoid detection by security agencies.
“Acting on credible intelligence, the troops conducted a carefully planned operation on a secluded compound deliberately concealed by the suspects to evade security detection.”
During the search of the premises, soldiers recovered five locally fabricated AK-47 rifles and arrested two individuals suspected of manufacturing and supplying weapons.
Danja explained that the Kebbi illegal arms factory operation was conducted jointly with other security agencies, describing it as another significant achievement in ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and organised criminal activities. He said the success reflected growing collaboration among security institutions working to dismantle criminal supply chains operating within the North-West.
“The operation, conducted in close collaboration with other security agencies, highlights the growing effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation in ongoing efforts to disrupt terrorist logistics and degrade criminal networks across the North-West.”
The military disclosed that the two suspects remain in custody and are undergoing preliminary interrogation. According to the statement, investigators have launched further inquiries aimed at identifying additional members of the syndicate, as well as those suspected of financing or supporting the illegal weapons operation. The command said security agencies are working to dismantle the wider arms supply network linked to the suspects.
Operation FANSAN YAMMA commended the professionalism displayed by troops and partner security agencies during the operation. The military also appealed to residents across the North-West to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to assist security forces in identifying criminal elements and preventing future attacks.
It stressed that public cooperation remains essential to sustaining ongoing operations aimed at improving security and eliminating illegal armed networks across the region. The successful raid on the Kebbi illegal arms factory represents another step in efforts to curb the proliferation of illicit firearms and disrupt terrorist support structures operating within northern Nigeria.
