UYO, Nigeria — The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has dismantled a covert firearms manufacturing facility and arrested two suspected gunsmiths in a major operation targeting the illegal arms trade fueling violence across the state.
The raid, carried out on Thursday, October 24, 2025, in Itam Village, Itu Local Government Area, followed credible intelligence linking 39-year-old Aniekan Aniedi to the fabrication and distribution of locally made firearms. He was arrested alongside 35-year-old Ubong Udofia, believed to be his accomplice.
According to Police Public Relations Officer DSP Timfon John, the operation uncovered a cache of weapons and tools used in the illicit production line. Items recovered include three locally made guns, metal pipes, iron rods, copper wires, and flat metals shaped for gun butts. Officers also seized a welding machine, electric filing machine, and a mini electric screwdriver believed to be central to the manufacturing process.
Commissioner of Police CP Baba Mohammad Azare praised the swift action of the operatives, calling the bust “a significant blow to the illicit arms supply chain fueling criminality in our state.” He assured that investigations are ongoing to trace the suspects’ network and determine links to cult groups and armed robbery syndicates.
This operation follows a similar crackdown in August 2025, when police in Rivers State uncovered a cache of locally made pistols and arrested three suspects linked to a cult group operating in Port Harcourt. In July, authorities in Cross River State intercepted a shipment of homemade rifles en route to Calabar, leading to the arrest of a suspected arms dealer with ties to multiple criminal gangs.
In response to the latest development, Akwa Ibom State Government officials expressed concern over the proliferation of illegal arms. A senior official from the Ministry of Internal Security, speaking anonymously, said the government is working closely with law enforcement to strengthen surveillance and intelligence gathering. “This operation underscores the urgent need for tighter control over metal workshops and unregistered fabrication sites,” the official said.
Community leaders in Itu LGA also commended the police, urging the government to intensify efforts to rehabilitate youths vulnerable to recruitment by criminal groups. “We need more than arrests — we need alternatives for these young men,” said Chief Okon Essien, a local elder.
The suspects remain in custody and will be charged to court upon conclusion of the investigation. Police have urged residents to report suspicious activities, assuring that all information will be treated with strict confidentiality.
