NDLEA Intercepts G3 Rifle With 78 Rounds Of Live Ammunition

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Benue State
Command has arrested a man with a fabricated high calibre G3 rifle
and 78 rounds of live ammunition.

The Chairman, NDLEA, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, who said
this during a news conference on Thursday in Abuja noted that the
suspect would be handed over to appropriate authority for further
investigation.

Marwa said that the checkpoint was to stop and search vehicles
for drugs, noting that NDLEA arrest when other criminal items such
as heavy weapons as in this instance were found.

Marwa said that the suspect was arrested on Aug. 4 in a bus
belonging to enroute Onitsha to Jos where the vehicle was flagged
down at Aliade checkpoint for search.

“In the process, an iron box completely welded end to end was
found in the vehicle, and when the passengers were questioned to
know the owner, the suspect, Celestine Christian, accepted
ownership.

“When the steel box was taken to the Benue State Command along
with the suspect, an electric filing machine was used to cut it
open.

“A fabricated high calibre G3 rifle was discovered with 78
rounds of live ammunition and five empty shells of same alibre were
discovered” he said.

Marwa noted that people now manufacture weapons on their own,
hereby selling to bandits, kidnappers and criminal gangs among
others.

He said that it was important for this to be investigated by the
appropriate agencies of the government, assuring that due sanctions
would follow as it might not be the only manufactured weapons.

While interrogating the suspect, Christian claimed he had talent
in making local guns, adding that he was hoping to get a job in the
military with it.

Christian said that he was aware it was a crime to manufacture
weapon without permit in Nigeria and that he was looking forward to
have one.

He said that he had met a soldier who told him to make a sample
and told him he could get a government job with his talent.

According to him, I do not have permit but I was looking forward
to getting one with my talent. They will not believe I can do this
that is why I need to convince them with a sample.

In the same Vien, Marwa said that three bandits armed with AK 47
rifles were also intercepted by officers on patrol in Malumfashi
Local Government Area of Katsina State.

He said that the suspects were from Igabi Local Government Area
of Kaduna State enroute Kankara Local Government Area in Katsina
State for a devilish assignment.

He noted that a car, three AK 47 rifles with magazines and
ammunition, different types of charms, rings, cash and other items,
were recovered from them.

“However, I also asked that Christian be transferred to Abuja
because of the calibre of weapon found with him, which he claims he
manufactures.

“For us at NDLEA, we will continue to do our best with our
highly dedicated officers and men to cut off accessibility to
illicit drugs by criminal gangs by blocking the trafficking of
these psychoactive and psychotropic substances.

“In doing this, we will not shy away from complementing the
efforts of other security agencies, especially our armed forces in
our collective bid to restore security and maintain law and order
in all parts of the country.(NAN)

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Benue State
Command has arrested a man with a fabricated high calibre G3 rifle
and 78 rounds of live ammunition.

The Chairman, NDLEA, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, who said
this during a news conference on Thursday in Abuja noted that the
suspect would be handed over to appropriate authority for further
investigation.

Marwa said that the checkpoint was to stop and search vehicles
for drugs, noting that NDLEA arrest when other criminal items such
as heavy weapons as in this instance were found.

Marwa said that the suspect was arrested on Aug. 4 in a bus
belonging to enroute Onitsha to Jos where the vehicle was flagged
down at Aliade checkpoint for search.

“In the process, an iron box completely welded end to end was
found in the vehicle, and when the passengers were questioned to
know the owner, the suspect, Celestine Christian, accepted
ownership.

“When the steel box was taken to the Benue State Command along
with the suspect, an electric filing machine was used to cut it
open.

“A fabricated high calibre G3 rifle was discovered with 78
rounds of live ammunition and five empty shells of same alibre were
discovered” he said.

Marwa noted that people now manufacture weapons on their own,
hereby selling to bandits, kidnappers and criminal gangs among
others.

He said that it was important for this to be investigated by the
appropriate agencies of the government, assuring that due sanctions
would follow as it might not be the only manufactured weapons.

While interrogating the suspect, Christian claimed he had talent
in making local guns, adding that he was hoping to get a job in the
military with it.

Christian said that he was aware it was a crime to manufacture
weapon without permit in Nigeria and that he was looking forward to
have one.

He said that he had met a soldier who told him to make a sample
and told him he could get a government job with his talent.

According to him, I do not have permit but I was looking forward
to getting one with my talent. They will not believe I can do this
that is why I need to convince them with a sample.

In the same Vien, Marwa said that three bandits armed with AK 47
rifles were also intercepted by officers on patrol in Malumfashi
Local Government Area of Katsina State.

He said that the suspects were from Igabi Local Government Area
of Kaduna State enroute Kankara Local Government Area in Katsina
State for a devilish assignment.

He noted that a car, three AK 47 rifles with magazines and
ammunition, different types of charms, rings, cash and other items,
were recovered from them.

“However, I also asked that Christian be transferred to Abuja
because of the calibre of weapon found with him, which he claims he
manufactures.

“For us at NDLEA, we will continue to do our best with our
highly dedicated officers and men to cut off accessibility to
illicit drugs by criminal gangs by blocking the trafficking of
these psychoactive and psychotropic substances.

“In doing this, we will not shy away from complementing the
efforts of other security agencies, especially our armed forces in
our collective bid to restore security and maintain law and order
in all parts of the country.(NAN)