Three youths from Onicha-Olona in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State have regained their freedom after spending one year and six months in the custody of the Nigerian Army over allegations of running an illegal gun and drone fabrication outfit.
Their release follows sustained appeals for clemency led by the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Senator Ned Nwoko, who engaged military and intelligence authorities to review the circumstances surrounding their arrest.
The young men were apprehended in February 2024 by operatives of the 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army, after security personnel uncovered what was described as an illegal weapons and drone manufacturing setup allegedly connected to their family residence in Onicha-Olona.
Speaking shortly after they were freed, one of the youths expressed profound gratitude to Senator Nwoko and the security agencies for what he described as “a second chance.”
He explained that their interest in fabricating security gadgets stemmed from an innate creative drive that developed during their primary school years.
Their parents also affirmed that the boys had shown unusual technical curiosity and had been experimenting with mechanical and electronic devices since their early teens.
It will be recalled that Senator Nwoko had maintained close communication with both the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services (DSS) since the incident.
Over a year ago, he had publicly argued that the technical abilities displayed by the boys should be redirected into productive innovation, particularly in an era where nations are increasingly dependent on science, technology and indigenous solutions.
The lawmaker has now reiterated that a structured amnesty and rehabilitation programme, supervised by the appropriate security institutions, would not only guide the youths on the right path, but also enable their skills to be refined and channelled into areas such as the maintenance and fabrication of approved security equipment, where they can make meaningful contributions to society
