The blacksmith’s factory, where illegal weaponry was being made for criminals, was busted, according to the Lagos State Police Command.
As suspected criminals were paraded at the command headquarters in Ikeja on Tuesday, state police public relations officer Benjamin Hundeyin made this announcement.
“On September 11, 2023, at around 4 p.m., agents of the command raided the facility and detained Musiliu Gbenga, 21, and Owolabi Azeez, 22, based on actionable intelligence on a blacksmith who manufactured firearms for later resale to criminals near Idata Village of Ibeju-Lekki.
“The following items were recovered from the factory: three locally made single-barrel pistols, one locally made double-barrel gun, one locally made single-barrel gun, two locally made single-barrel long guns, ten spent cartridges, twelve long pipes, two locally made drilling machines, one locally made gas cylinder, one vehicle, and other fabricated tools,” said Hundeyin.
Additionally, CP Idowu Owohunwa, the state’s commissioner of police, “calls on all persons having illegal possession of arms and ammunition to come forward and submit them without getting arrested or prosecuted.”
The command claims that this is in accordance with Kayode Egbetokun, the acting Inspector-General of Police, who instructed all commands to seize any weapons or ammunition in the possession of non-state actors within their respective spheres of influence.
Hundeyin revealed that more people had been detained for a variety of offenses, including impersonating military personnel, robbery, and cult membership. In total, 32 people were taken into custody.