An Improvised Explosives Device, IED, and gun manufacturing factory at Osomba Community in Akampka Local government Area in Cross River has been unearthed by operatives attached to the Cross River State Police Command.
Nigeriacrime.com learned that the covert Operation was led by Commander, Anti Cultism and Kidnapping Squad, ACKS, (Dragon Squad) SP Ogini Chukwuma on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, CP Gyogon Grimah.
According to the police, the operation which lasted for over four hours saw the recovery of remote controlled IEDs, detonators, other explosive devices, several automatic weapons, and dozens of locally made double barrels and pistols while nine suspects were arrested including bomb makers.
A community leader who spoke on the condition of anonymity said most of the guns and weapons used by gangsters and other criminals to terrorise the area mostly come from that place.
The community leader revealed that with this uncovering and arrest Osombo and its environs would know peace as many of those who were benefiting from the illicit activity were either in police custody or have ran away from the community.
Confirming the incident, the Command’s Spokesperson, SP Irene Ugbo said that nine persons had been arrested and were now in their custody including a notorious gangster, armed robbery suspect simply identified as Orok Etim a.k.a GOWON.
SP Irene Ugbo noted that the following items were recovered explosive devices ( High explosives 90M) 8 pieces, 60M 6 pieces, Detonator 10 pieces and Indicators 15 pieces as well as 10 pieces of remote devices and 10 pieces of battery as power source.
Other items recovered include; a G3 automatic machine gun 2 pieces, 3 pump actions, MAC 4 automatic rifles 5 pieces, 5 locally fabricated pistols, LAR rifle, fabricated revolver, locally, beretta Pistol, 650 rounds of 7.6×51 LAR ammunition 29 rounds of 7.62×39 AK-47 AMMUNITION X 70 pieces of cartridges amongst others.
According to her, the suspected terrorists who were also involved in gun running and armed robbery would be charged to court as soon as possible as the investigation was ongoing at the moment.
“Once we are done with our investigation they would be charged to court, 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 saint ise the state and make Cross River the haven that it is we are taking the war to these criminals,” she said.