The operation, which took place in Sabon Garin Kangin area of Kaduna State on November 9, 2026, led to the recovery of 17 locally manufactured Dane guns, two pistols, 25 Dane gun pipes and other materials suspected to have been used in the production of firearms.
The arrested suspect was identified as 45-year-old Sagiru Musa, who was allegedly operating the illegal gun manufacturing facility.
The development was disclosed by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement detailing a series of enforcement operations carried out by the agency across different parts of Nigeria.
According to the agency, its operatives discovered the factory during a raid in the Sabon Garin Kangin community, where they recovered completed firearms alongside materials intended for the production of additional weapons.
The discovery has raised further concerns about the illegal production and circulation of firearms in Nigeria, particularly amid continuing security challenges involving armed groups, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
The NDLEA said the operation was part of its ongoing efforts to disrupt criminal activities and address the connections between illicit drug activities and other forms of organised crime.
The arrest of the alleged factory owner is expected to assist investigations into the operation of the facility, the origin of the recovered materials and the possible distribution channels for the locally manufactured weapons.
NDLEA Recovers 17 Dane Guns, Two Pistols in Kaduna
Details released by the agency showed that the operation resulted in the recovery of several firearms and materials used in local gun manufacturing.
The recovered items included:
17 locally manufactured Dane guns.
Two pistols.
25 Dane gun pipes.
Other materials used in firearms production.
The recovery of the Dane gun pipes and manufacturing materials suggests that the facility was equipped to produce additional weapons beyond the completed firearms found during the operation.
However, the NDLEA did not disclose the number of firearms the factory may have produced before the raid or how long the alleged manufacturing activities had been taking place.
The agency also did not provide details about whether the suspect operated alone or had other individuals working with him.
Investigators are expected to establish whether the recovered firearms were intended for personal use, sale to individuals or supply to criminal networks.
The identity of any potential customers or distributors had not been disclosed in the initial announcement.
The agency’s disclosure also did not establish whether the weapons had been linked to any specific criminal incidents in Kaduna State or neighbouring areas.
NDLEA Links Discovery to Wider Security Concerns
Commenting on the discovery, Babafemi said the operation reinforced concerns about the relationship between substance abuse, drug trafficking and other forms of criminal activity.
He explained that the discovery of the firearms factory highlighted the need for sustained enforcement against criminal networks whose activities may extend beyond conventional drug-related offences.
According to the NDLEA spokesperson, the operation demonstrated the importance of addressing interconnected criminal activities rather than treating drug trafficking and other security threats as entirely separate problems.
The agency has repeatedly maintained that illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse can contribute to criminal activities, including violence and organised crime.
The Kaduna discovery therefore forms part of the NDLEA’s wider efforts to disrupt activities that threaten public safety.
However, the agency has not publicly established a direct connection between Sagiru Musa’s alleged firearms manufacturing activities and any particular drug trafficking organisation.
The distinction is important because the recovery of firearms from a suspected manufacturing facility does not, by itself, establish that the weapons were supplied to armed groups or used in violent attacks.
Further investigations will be required to determine the full circumstances surrounding the operation.
NDLEA Chairman Commends Operatives Over Successful Operation
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers and personnel involved in the agency’s recent operations across the country.
Marwa urged officers to sustain the momentum in tackling drug trafficking, substance abuse and other criminal activities threatening national security.
He particularly highlighted the importance of intelligence gathering, effective surveillance and coordinated enforcement operations in identifying and dismantling criminal networks.
The NDLEA chairman also stressed the need for officers to remain committed to the agency’s drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction strategies.
The Kaduna firearms factory discovery was among several operations reported by the agency in its latest enforcement update.
Another Arrest Over AK-47 Ammunition Along Abuja-Kaduna Expressway
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested a 31-year-old woman, identified as Tabara Dauda, along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.
The arrest was made at Jere on November 13, 2026, when operatives reportedly intercepted her with 196 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition and ₦675,000 in cash.
The recovery of the ammunition along the busy highway has raised additional concerns about the movement of weapons and ammunition through major transportation routes.
The agency did not establish a connection between the ammunition recovered from Dauda and the firearms manufacturing facility uncovered in Sabon Garin Kangin.
Both incidents, however, feature prominently in the NDLEA’s latest security-related enforcement activities in Kaduna State.
Investigations are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the ammunition seizure and determine whether the suspect was transporting the rounds to another location.
NDLEA Records Other Major Operations Across Nigeria
Beyond the discovery of the illegal firearms factory, the agency reported several drug-related arrests and seizures across different states.
In Lagos State, NDLEA operatives intercepted 25.05 kilogrammes of methamphetamine concealed in assorted breakfast cereal packages imported from South Africa at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
The agency also arrested a 28-year-old American citizen, Greene Da’monte Khiree, over a 33.95-kilogramme shipment of cannabis, popularly known as Loud, allegedly imported from Thailand through Dubai.
In another Lagos operation, officers recovered 119.71 kilogrammes of cannabis from a suspect at Ebute Metta.
Additional seizures in Ajah included cannabis, codeine syrup, Rohypnol, tramadol, nitrous oxide and pregabalin.
In Ondo State, operatives recovered 560 kilogrammes of cannabis from a storage facility after arresting two suspects at Olabi village.
The agency also reported the recovery of approximately 122 kilogrammes of cannabis during an operation at Ipele Forest.
In Delta State, officers recovered 255.67 kilogrammes of cannabis and 1.5 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds.
Meanwhile, in Edo State, a 39-year-old woman, Blessing Chukwudi, was arrested at Ikpoba Hill in Benin City with 14 kilogrammes of Loud, 65 grammes of Colorado and 73 grammes of methamphetamine.
The operations formed part of the series of enforcement activities for which Marwa commended NDLEA personnel.
Growing Concerns Over Illegal Firearms in Nigeria
The discovery of the suspected gun factory comes as Nigeria continues to confront security threats involving illegal firearms.
The circulation of locally manufactured and illegally acquired weapons has remained a concern for security agencies, particularly in areas affected by banditry, kidnapping, communal violence and organised criminal activities.
Illegal firearms can increase the capacity of criminal groups to carry out attacks, intimidate communities and resist security operations.
The recovery of 17 Dane guns and two pistols from the Kaduna facility therefore raises questions about the scale of unauthorised firearms production and the channels through which such weapons may enter circulation.
Although locally manufactured Dane guns are sometimes encountered in rural communities, their production and possession remain subject to applicable firearms laws and regulatory requirements.
Authorities must establish whether the recovered weapons were manufactured without the necessary authorisation and whether they were intended for unlawful distribution.
The investigation will also be important in identifying possible suppliers of raw materials, buyers and other individuals who may have participated in the alleged operation.
What Happens Next?
The arrest of Sagiru Musa provides an opportunity for investigators to examine the operations of the suspected factory and determine whether other individuals were involved.
The NDLEA is yet to publicly disclose the full details of its investigation, including whether the suspect has been charged in court.
It has also not announced whether additional arrests have been made in connection with the recovered firearms.
The agency is expected to provide further information as investigations progress.
For residents of Kaduna State and Nigerians concerned about the circulation of illegal weapons, the discovery highlights the importance of sustained intelligence-led operations and cooperation among security agencies.
The recovery of the firearms and manufacturing materials could help investigators establish how the facility operated and whether its activities extended beyond the immediate community.
For now, the NDLEA has confirmed the discovery of the suspected gun factory, the arrest of its alleged owner and the recovery of 19 completed firearms alongside production materials.
The outcome of the investigation will determine whether the operation leads to the identification of a wider illegal firearms manufacturing and distribution network.
Sources: NDLEA statement through its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi; Punch Newspapers; The Guardian Nigeria, November 15, 2026.
