By Solomon OKPO
Uyo, The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has uncovered and dismantled an illegal firearms fabrication factory in Itu Local Government Area, leading to the arrest of two suspected gunsmiths.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, said the operation was the result of credible intelligence that exposed a criminal network involved in the production and supply of locally fabricated weapons to armed robbers and cult groups in the state.
The primary suspect, Aniekan Aniedi, aged 39, was arrested at his factory in Itam Village, Itu LGA, alongside an alleged accomplice, Ubong Udofia, 35, during a raid carried out by police operatives at about 6:57 p.m. on Thursday, October 24, 2025.
According to the police, the search of the facility led to the recovery of a cache of illegal arms and fabrication materials, including:
Three locally made guns
Five metal pipes
Two iron rods
Assorted copper wires
Two flat metal sheets used for making gun butts
Also seized were several tools and machines allegedly used in the gun-making process, such as a welding machine, an electric filing machine, and a mini electric screwdriver.
Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammad Azare, commended the operatives for what he described as “a significant blow to the illicit arms supply chain fueling violence and criminality in the state.”
He assured that investigations are ongoing to unravel the extent of the suspects’ network and their possible links to other criminal elements. The suspects, he said, will be charged to court upon conclusion of the investigation.
CP Azare also appealed to residents to continue sharing credible information on suspicious activities, assuring that all intelligence provided will be treated with utmost confidentiality.
