The police in Akwa Ibom State have broken up a suspected illegal gun-making group. They recovered a locally made double-barrelled cartridge gun and tools that were used to make weapons.
The police said their operation revealed an "illicit arms production network operating within the state." They are also trying to catch another suspect who is believed to have helped with the gun-making process.
Timfon John, the police spokeswoman in the state, shared this news in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday.
According to the statement, this success came from a coordinated operation focused on fighting violent crime and reducing the number of illegal guns in Akwa Ibom.
The police arrested Miracle Udo, 27, from Cross River State, who lives in Ikot Obio Offong in the Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, on Friday.
They found a locally made double-barrelled cartridge gun with him when they arrested him, according to the statement.
The police reported that Mr Udo confessed during questioning that he had the gun. He named Edet Okon as the person who gave it to him.
Following this, investigators arrested Mr Okon as the investigation expanded.
The police said that further intelligence led them to another suspect, Kufre Stephen, 35, from Nsit Atai Local Government Area. They believe he is the one who makes the firearms.
During the operation, police found many tools and materials that they suspect were used to make illegal firearms. This helped confirm that there was an unlawful gun-making operation.
The statement added, "Investigations have further revealed the involvement of another suspect, believed to be a welder who regularly assisted in the fabrication process. Efforts are ongoing to catch the fleeing suspect and dismantle every link in the criminal network."
This discovery comes as the police work harder to stop the spread of illegal firearms and deal with violent crimes in the state.
Recently, the police have made several recoveries of locally made weapons.
In June, police arrested an armed robbery suspect in Uyo and seized a locally made firearm after residents called for help. Other gang members managed to escape.
Earlier in June, police also recovered a locally made pistol and some substances believed to be cannabis during an operation in Ibeno Local Government Area.
The police arrested a man who had a toy AK-47 rifle after he claimed to be working for the Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, as a vigilante.
These actions are part of a bigger crackdown announced by the state’s Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, in May. He mentioned that the command had arrested 178 suspects linked to armed robbery, kidnapping, cult activities, drug trafficking, and other crimes within five months.
He also reported the recovery of 69 firearms, including locally made pistols, Dane guns, and an AK-47 rifle, as well as hundreds of rounds of ammunition through intelligence-led operations across the state.
The recent operation that found the gun-making workshop shows a shift from just recovering illegal weapons to breaking up networks that are suspected of making and supplying them. Investigations are ongoing to find out more about the other members of the group.
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