The Akwa Ibom State Police Command says it has successfully dismantled an illegal firearms fabrication factory and apprehended two suspects in a targeted intelligence-led operation.
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, the command said.
Timfon John, DSP, the command’s spokesperson, said in a statement that operatives of the Command stormed the factory on Thursday, October 24, 2025, at around 18:57 hours.
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“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 locally fabricated guns, 5 pieces of metal pipes and two iron rods.
“Other items recovered include assorted copper wires and two flat metals designed for fabricating gun butts.”
According to the statement, the following tools and machinery, central to the illegal production line, were also seized as evidence: one welding machine, one mini electric screwdriver and one electric filing machine.
It added that 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.
“The suspects will be charged in court upon the conclusion of the investigation.
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The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, 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, the PPRO said
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.
