Cynthia Ezegwu
Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have dismantled an illegal firearms fabrication factory and arrested two suspects in Itam, Itu Local Government Area of the state.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Timfon John, the suspects — identified as 39-year-old Aniekan Aniedi and 35-year-old Ubong Udofia — were apprehended on Thursday, October 24, 2025, following credible intelligence.
The police said Aniedi had been actively engaged in the illegal production of firearms, which he allegedly supplied to armed robbers and cultists in the region.
“The Akwa Ibom State Police Command, in its relentless efforts to rid the state of crime, has successfully dismantled an illegal firearms fabrication factory and apprehended two suspects in a targeted intelligence-led operation,” the statement read in part.
Items recovered from the factory include a welding machine, a mini electric screwdriver, and an electric filing machine — all used in the manufacture of firearms.
DSP John said investigations were ongoing to uncover the suspects’ supply network and identify their buyers. She added that the suspects would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammad Azare, commended the operatives for their professionalism, describing the operation as a major breakthrough against illegal arms trafficking in the state.
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He urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information about criminal activities, assuring that such intelligence would be treated with utmost confidentiality.
The development comes just days after the Delta State Police Command arrested a suspected arms dealer, Ahmed Ibrahim, and his female accomplice, Jamila Abubakar, in Warri. Police recovered 367 rounds of live ammunition and ₦550,000, believed to be proceeds from illegal arms sales.
Both operations highlight the police’s intensified nationwide crackdown on illicit arms manufacturing and distribution networks fueling insecurity across the country.