Operatives of the Nigerian Armed Forces under the 3 Division/Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace (JTF OPEP) have uncovered and dismantled an illegal arms fabricating facility in Heipang District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Plateau State.

The operation followed actionable intelligence provided to the task force, according to a statement released on Thursday.

During the raid, one suspect was apprehended while others fled before troops arrived at the site. A detailed search of the factory resulted in the recovery of a significant cache of weapons and military equipment, including 12 assorted fabricated weapons, a fabricated pistol, 19 rounds of PKT ammunition, 12 cartridges, 10 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition, four rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, a single round of QJC ammunition, one smoke grenade, two fragmental jackets, a Motorola handheld radio, a jackknife, and a bucket containing assorted medicines.

The Nigerian Army confirmed that the arrested suspect and all recovered items are in custody for further investigation, while operations continue to locate and apprehend other members of the syndicate who escaped during the raid.

The 3 Division/JTF OPEP task force also urged residents of the area to remain vigilant and provide credible intelligence to security agencies, emphasising the role of community cooperation in curbing the proliferation of illegal arms.

“We call on residents to continue providing timely and credible information to aid our efforts in preventing the circulation of illicit weapons within the Joint Operations Area,” the statement said.

The raid comes as part of ongoing security operations in northern Nigeria. TVC previously reported that troops from the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, killed 11 fighters from Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) in separate encounters across Borno and Adamawa States.

The Nigerian Army said one of these engagements occurred on September 15 along the Baga–Cross Kauwa Main Supply Route in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno, where militants ambushed troops with a command-detonated improvised explosive device (IED).

The soldiers responded with force, inflicting casualties and forcing the attackers to retreat before reinforcements arrived.

The Plateau arms factory raid highlights ongoing efforts by the Nigerian military to disrupt illegal weapons networks and strengthen security across the country’s volatile regions.