Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have uncovered an illegal arms manufacturing facility in Nasarawa State and arrested a suspect.
The discovery was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday, January 26, 2026, by Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu Zubairu, Acting Media Information Officer at the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Whirl Stroke.
According to the statement, troops of Sector 2 OPWS, deployed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Idadu, made the discovery during a routine fighting and confidence-building patrol in Agwatashi, Doma Local Government Area of the state. The patrol was aimed at denying criminal elements freedom of action when the concealed site, suspected to be used for the illegal production of locally fabricated weapons, was uncovered.
The statement noted that several suspects fled upon sighting the troops. However, one individual, identified as Baba Ogar, a 26-year-old male from Arusu village in Kokona Local Government Area, was apprehended while attempting to evade arrest by hiding on top of a tree.
A search of the location led to the recovery of six locally fabricated pistols, assorted tools and equipment believed to be used in weapon production, the sum of ₦40,500, and a mobile phone found in the suspect’s possession.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the site served as an illegal arms factory supplying firearms to criminal elements within and beyond the area. The suspect is currently in custody, while efforts have been intensified to track down and apprehend other accomplices who escaped.
Commending the troops, the Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General Moses Gara, praised their professionalism, vigilance and sustained operational pressure, which led to the breakthrough. He urged them to maintain the momentum and continue relying on intelligence-driven operations to dismantle criminal networks across the Joint Operations Area.
Major General Gara also stressed the importance of public cooperation, calling on residents to provide timely and credible intelligence, noting that actionable information remains crucial to achieving lasting security and fostering economic growth.
