The military has revealed that suspects arrested in connection with illegal arms manufacturing operations in Plateau State admitted selling locally fabricated weapons to militias because they offered higher payments than other buyers.
Gatekeepers News reports that the disclosure was made by Brigadier General Selong Sule, Chief of Staff of Operation Safe Haven, during a security briefing in Jos.
According to Sule, troops acting on intelligence uncovered and dismantled several illegal weapon production sites across the state. While some suspects initially claimed they produced firearms to help members of their communities defend themselves, investigations later showed that some of the weapons were also sold to Fulani militias in exchange for better financial rewards.
The military described the proliferation of locally manufactured firearms as a major obstacle to peace and security efforts in Plateau. Sule warned that although some civilians justify possessing weapons for self-defence, the widespread circulation of illegal arms often fuels criminality, communal clashes and violent attacks.
He added that Operation Safe Haven is combining military operations with non-kinetic measures aimed at building trust with local communities and improving intelligence gathering to curb violence in the state.
The latest disclosure comes amid ongoing efforts by security agencies to dismantle illegal arms networks and stem the flow of weapons linked to recurring attacks in Plateau and neighbouring states.
