Nasarawa: Obi community refutes army claim of illegal arms factory, threatens legal action
Residents of the Agwatashi (Olosoho) community in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State have strongly refuted claims made by the Nigerian Army regarding the discovery of an illegal arms manufacturing site in their area. In a press release issued by their youth leader, Aliyu Adokwe, the community asserted that the military’s report was a case of mistaken identity, misidentifying the location of the alleged site.
The controversy arose from a statement by Lt. Ahmad Zubairu, the Acting Media Information Officer of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), who indicated that troops had found what he characterized as an illegal arms production site during a routine patrol. According to military reports, the location was purportedly used for manufacturing locally made firearms, with the recovery of various items, including firearms, tools, cash, and a mobile phone. Zubairu claimed that preliminary investigations suggested the site was supplying weapons to criminal elements both locally and beyond.
However, Adokwe clarified that Agwatashi (Olosoho) is distinctly situated in Obi Local Government Area, in contrast to Agbashi, which is located in Doma Local Government Area. He emphasized that the two communities are separate entities, and the military’s assertion regarding Agwatashi (Olosoho) is incorrect, stating, “the mention of our community in the military statement is erroneous.”
The youth leader further asserted the peaceful nature of the Agwatashi (Olosoho) community, denying their involvement in criminal activities or illegal arms production. He emphasized that no security agency has conducted operations or made arrests in their locality in connection with such issues. Adokwe described the military’s report as damaging to the community’s longstanding positive reputation, calling for military authorities to promptly correct the mistake.
The statement from the community stressed that they view the military’s report as an attempt to tarnish their hard-earned reputation. Adokwe demanded a retraction and a clear acknowledgment of the error. He warned that if the military does not rectify the situation, the residents may have to consider pursuing legal action to safeguard their community’s name.
In summary, the residents of Agwatashi (Olosoho) fervently defended their reputation against claims of illegal arms manufacturing, asserting that the military’s report was based on a mix-up between distinct communities. They called for an immediate retraction from the military, underscoring their community’s peaceful nature and the absence of any illegal activities or law enforcement operations in Agwatashi (Olosoho).
