Akwa Ibom Police arrest suspect, recover gun, machetes
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a 29-year-old suspected criminal and recovered a locally made gun, a live cartridge and two machetes during an operation in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area.
The suspect, ThankGod Ekpe, was arrested at about 4:50 am on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at a suspected criminal hideout in Ikot Akpabong Village.
Etim Ekpimah
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a 29-year-old suspected criminal and recovered a locally made gun, a live cartridge and two machetes during an operation in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area.
The suspect, ThankGod Ekpe, was arrested at about 4:50 am on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at a suspected criminal hideout in Ikot Akpabong Village.
The operation followed credible intelligence received by the command on August 31 concerning the activities of a suspected gang allegedly involved in arson and robbery in the area.
In a statement issued on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, said the operatives moved swiftly on the intelligence and raided the gang’s suspected hideout.
John said the operation led to Ekpe’s arrest and the recovery of one locally made short gun, one live cartridge and two machetes.
He added that the suspect remained in police custody and was assisting investigators with information that could lead to the arrest of other members of the gang and their associates.
The CP commended the operatives for their prompt response and intelligence-led approach to crime prevention.
Azare said the command would sustain pressure on criminal elements across the state, particularly those involved in robbery, arson, cultism, kidnapping, illegal possession of firearms and other violent crimes.
He warned criminals and their collaborators that the state would provide no haven for those threatening public safety, adding that the command would continue to deploy intelligence-led operations, patrols and raids to apprehend suspects and bring them to justice.
The commissioner also urged residents to remain vigilant and provide the police with timely and credible information about suspicious movements, criminal hideouts and other activities capable of threatening public safety.
He assured residents that information supplied to the police would be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.
