Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have arrested two suspected arms suppliers during an intelligence-led operation in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area.
The suspects, identified as 52-year-old Udeme Udo and 40-year-old Nkereuwem Udo, were apprehended on May 8, 2026, following what police described as credible intelligence linking them to illegal arms activities within the area.
According to the command’s spokesperson, DSP Timfon John, preliminary investigations suggest the suspects are members of a criminal network allegedly supplying weapons and ammunition to criminals operating in Ikot Ekpene and nearby communities.
Police said a locally manufactured revolver pistol was recovered from the suspects during a search conducted after their arrest.
“The police command has recorded another operational breakthrough in its sustained offensive against criminal elements and illegal arms proliferation within the state,” the statement said.
Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Baba Azare, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks and disrupting the flow of illegal weapons fueling violent crimes across the state.
He also warned individuals involved in the unlawful possession and trafficking of firearms to abandon such activities or face prosecution.
The police added that intelligence-driven raids, surveillance operations, and security monitoring would continue across identified criminal hotspots in the state.
