Police discover arms factory in Ondo

A combined team of police detectives and military intelligence officials have found an illegal arms factory in the western Nigerian state of Ondo, 'The Guardian' daily in Lagos reported on Friday. According to the paper, the discovery was disclosed at a news conference on Thursday by Ondo Police Commissioner Chris Nyiam, who said a suspect was arrested at the illegal factory, located in a hideout two km from Akure, Ondo's capital. A large number of single and double-barrel guns, including locally made pistols, and other weapons in various stages of completion were recovered at the factory, the paper said. Ondo was the scene of clashes in September 1998 and again earlier this month between its Ijaw and Ilaje communities. Flood displaces 300 in Benue Five persons have been confirmed dead while no fewer than 60 houses were submerged after the River Obi overflowed its banks in Benue in Nigeria's middle belt, 'The Guardian' reported on 27 August. The flood, said to be the area's worst in five years, swamped farmland close to the river and rendered around 300 persons homeless, according to 'The Guardian'. It was caused by a heavy downpour that created multiple flood channels in the area, the paper said. Heavy rains and floods have been reported in much of West Africa since late July.