The Nigerian Army said, yesterday, it has uncovered an armoury with a large cache of arms in a Kaduna home allegedly belonging to an Abuja-based politician, Hon. Hussaini Dei Dei.

This came as the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh, said yesterday in Ilorin that nobody was safe in the country and  called for proactive measures among states of the federation to curb the situation.

The arms were discovered following an operation carried out by 1 Division, Nigerian Army in the house located at Sabon Birni Road, Kawo in Kaduna North  Local Government Area of Kaduna State, following  a tip off.

The building is located  few metres from the 1 Division Army Headquarters.

Brigadier-General Tagbo Chuks Ude, Commander, One Division, Internal Security Force, who briefed newsmen on the development said: “Our discovery followed a cordon and search operation carried out  in the area by troops at about 5.30 pm, Tuesday. The building, housing the bomb making factory, will be demolished in line with Army’s resolve to deter terrorists from their activities.

Items recovered

“During the operation, the following items were recovered:  Six AK 47 rifles; one light machine gun; one tear gas launcher; 27 loaded and17 empty AK 47 magzines; one FN rifle magazine; five sub-machine gun magazines; four pistols magazines; one loaded light machine gun magazine; 275 rounds of 7.62 mm NATO ammunition; 765 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition; 58 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

“Other weapons recovered during the operation include, 125 pieces of detonator-33; two reels of detonating cords; nine small cans of prepared impoverished explosive devices, IED; one paint can of prepared IED; nine pieces of nine-volt batteries; three bags of white chemical substances; five pieces of remote control switches; one reel of firing cable and six pieces of assorted car number plates.

“The recovered dangerous weapons were buried inside soak away pits, and underground within the building. I want to commend the efforts of the well-meaning citizens that reported the matter and also to reiterate our  resolve to fight terrorism in the country.

“I still want to appeal to the public to report any suspicious movement, establishment or persons in their environment as such information would be treated with absolute confidentiality.

Six arrested

“We arrested two men, two children and two women in the house. As a matter of fact, the explosive contents of this paint can bring down the whole of this headquarters,1Division Headquarters.”

Ude said the house would be demolished as soon as it was cleared of all explosives.

He said: “Our normal process of demolishing the house is in progress. We are taking our time because we want to make sure that the general area is safe before we demolish it.”