Detectives say locally made firearms and an unfinished gun barrel were recovered during the raid.
Police operatives in Ondo State have arrested a 53-year-old man, Kareem Fatia, suspected of manufacturing and distributing locally made firearms in Ile-Oluji, a community in the southern part of the state.
According to sources within the command, the arrest followed a carefully coordinated operation based on credible intelligence gathered by detectives attached to the Yaba Divisional Headquarters in Ondo City. Acting on the tip-off, officers stormed the Eyingun-Owode area, where the suspect was reportedly operating an illegal arms fabrication point.
The operation, carried out in the early hours of the day, caught the suspect off guard and led to the discovery of several weapons believed to have been produced and distributed to individuals involved in criminal activities across the region.
Police Public Relations Officer of the Ondo State Command, Olusola Ayanlade, confirmed the arrest in a statement made available to journalists in Akure.
Guns And Unfinished Weapons Found Behind His Residence
The police spokesperson explained that a thorough search of the area revealed a small stockpile of locally made firearms hidden in a bush behind the suspect’s residence.
“A total of three single-barrel guns, three Dane guns, and one unfinished gun barrel were recovered during the operation,” Ayanlade said.
“The suspect made useful statements to investigators regarding his involvement in the illegal fabrication and sale of firearms.”
He added that preliminary investigations indicated that Fatia may have been operating as a supplier to local gangs and criminal elements engaged in armed robbery and other violent activities within the state.
Police also confirmed that two additional suspects were arrested in connection with the illegal trade after interrogation of the principal suspect revealed their identities. Both men are said to have acted as intermediaries, linking Fatia to potential buyers.
Police Investigate Wider Arms Network
Authorities say the ongoing investigation will focus on uncovering the full extent of the suspect’s network and identifying individuals or groups that may have purchased or used the weapons.
The police are also examining whether the illegal factory is part of a wider gun-running syndicate with connections to other states in the South-West region.
Ayanlade noted that while the principal suspect had initially denied involvement, evidence recovered from the scene, including unfinished weapon parts, metal-cutting tools, and gunpowder residue, strongly linked him to the illegal operation.
“The Command is determined to trace and dismantle all illegal firearms sources in the state,” he stated.
“The suspect and the recovered exhibits will be transferred to the Command’s Monitoring Unit for discreet investigation and possible prosecution.”
Police Renew Warning Against Illegal Arms Fabrication
The Ondo State Police Command has reiterated its warning to residents against engaging in illegal manufacturing, possession, or distribution of firearms, stressing that such activities contribute to rising insecurity and violent crimes in local communities.
Security experts have long expressed concerns over the growing number of locally made weapons in circulation, many of which end up in the hands of criminal gangs responsible for robbery, kidnapping, and communal clashes.
Recent data from the Nigeria Police Force suggests that over 60 percent of arms recovered during operations across the country are locally fabricated. These weapons, though crude, remain deadly and are often used in violent attacks in both rural and urban areas.
The Ondo State Commissioner of Police has commended the operatives involved in the successful operation, urging residents to continue sharing credible intelligence that can assist security agencies in identifying and arresting criminal elements within their communities.
Meanwhile, investigations into the case are ongoing, and the police have assured the public that all suspects will be prosecuted once the investigation is completed.
The arrest marks another step in the police command’s effort to clamp down on illegal arms manufacturing, a trend that continues to threaten peace and safety in parts of the country.
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