Police seal illegal firearms fabrication factory, arrest two suspects

Etim Ekpimah

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has dismantled an illegal firearms fabrication factory and arrested two suspects in a targeted intelligence-led operation in the state.

DSP Timfon John, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, said 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.

John stated that 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.

“A comprehensive search of the illicit factory yielded a significant cache of weapons, tools, and materials used in the manufacturing process. The recovered items include three (3) locally made guns; five (5) pieces of metal pipes; two (2) iron rods; assorted copper wires, and two (2) flat metals designed for fabricating gun butts.

“Furthermore, the following tools and machinery, central to the illegal production line, were also seized as evidence: one (1) welding machine; one (1) mini electric screwdriver, and one (1) electric filing machine,” she said.

She added that an intensive investigation is currently ongoing to uncover the full extent of the suspects’ network, identify their clients, and explore possible links of their operations to other criminal activities. The suspects will be charged in court upon the conclusion of the 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 on suspicious activities within their communities, assuring that all information will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.