Law enforcement apprehends pair of alleged gun traffickers, seizes weapons in Akwa Ibom

Akwa Ibom State Police Command officers have apprehended two individuals suspected of supplying arms, marking a significant development in the ongoing campaign against criminal activity, with a locally manufactured revolver pistol seized during the operation.

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The suspects, identified as 52-year-old Udeme Udo and 40-year-old Nkereuwem Udo, were taken into custody on May 8, 2026, at approximately 4:25pm in the Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, following the receipt of credible intelligence, as disclosed by the command's Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, in a statement issued in Uyo on Saturday.

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Preliminary investigations have revealed that the suspects are allegedly part of a criminal network involved in the supply of arms and ammunition to criminals operating in Ikot Ekpene and surrounding areas.

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A statement from the police command highlighted the success of the operation, stating that the command has achieved another operational breakthrough in its sustained efforts to combat criminal elements and the proliferation of illegal arms within the state.

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The statement outlined the circumstances of the arrest, noting that operatives acted on credible intelligence to apprehend the suspects, Udeme Udo and Nkereuwem Udo, on May 8, 2026, at about 0425hrs.

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A thorough search of the suspects resulted in the recovery of one locally made revolver pistol from their possession, according to the statement.

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The Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Baba Azare, has reaffirmed the command's commitment to dismantling criminal networks and disrupting the supply channels of illegal arms that fuel violent crimes across the state.

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CP Baba Mohammed Azare warned individuals involved in the unlawful possession, trafficking, and distribution of firearms to cease their activities immediately or face the full force of the law.

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The Commissioner has also directed the continuation of sustained intelligence-driven operations, raids, and surveillance across identified black spots and criminal flashpoints within the state.