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From Isaac Job, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State Police Command said it has dismantled a local firearms factory and arrested two suspected gunsmiths identified as Àniekan Aniedi and Ubong Udofia in their hideout at Itam village in Itu local government area of the state.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer ( PPRO) in Akwa Ibom DSP Timfon John made available to Journalists in Uyo stated that the suspects were arrested through intelligence gathering and targeted operations.
John said the suspects sold the locally made guns to armed robbers and cultists who have been terrorizing the area .
The statement reads in parts:
“Credible intelligence had earlier indicated that Aniekan Aniedi, a 39-year-old male resident of Itam Village, Itu Local Government Area, was actively engaged in the production of locally fabricated and illegal firearms, which were being supplied to armed robbers and cultists in the region.
“Operatives of the Command stormed the factory on Thursday, October 24, 2025, at around 18:57 hours.
“The operation led to the arrest of the primary suspect, Aniekan Aniedi, and a second individual, Ubong Udofia, a 35-year-old male, believed to be an accomplice in the illegal enterprise”.
John disclosed that items recovered from the illegal gun factory included cache of weapons, tools and materials used for the illegal production of firearms.
Others were three fabricated locally made guns , 5 metal pipes ,two iron rods, assorted copper wires, two flat metals designed for fabricating gun butts and welding machines.
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“An intensive investigation is currently ongoing to uncover the full extent of the suspects’ network, identify their clients, and get possible links of their operations to other criminal activities”.
John explained that the suspects
will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigation.
“The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, CP Baba Mohammad Azare commended the operatives for their swift and effective action.
“He stated that the operation is a significant blow to the illicit arms supply chain fueling violence and criminality in our state.
“CP Azare urged members of the public to continue to provide timely and credible information as all information will be treated with the utmost confidentiality”.
