The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested two individuals in separate incidents over alleged unlawful possession of firearms in Ibeno and Eket local government areas.
Confirming the arrests on Sunday, the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, stated that the first suspect, a 65-year-old man identified as Nehemiah Sunday Udo from Ekpene Obo village in Esit Eket LGA, was apprehended on February 22, 2025, around 11 a.m. following intelligence reports.
According to John, “The suspect was accosted along Ibeno Beach Road and taken to the village head’s palace. A police patrol team was swiftly deployed to the scene, and the suspect, along with recovered exhibits, was taken to the Divisional Headquarters for further investigation.”
The recovered items included a double-barrel long gun, a cartridge, a torchlight, and a travel bag containing clothes. During interrogation, Udo claimed to be a member of the Professional Hunters Association of Nigeria (PHAN), a claim police are currently verifying.
In a separate operation, police operatives on a routine stop-and-search patrol along Ikot Udoma Road, Eket LGA, on February 21, 2025, at about 8:10 p.m., arrested one Emmanuel Sylvanus Ekan for allegedly being in possession of a locally made pistol.
John stated that “The suspect was immediately taken into custody for further investigation.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, reiterated the command’s commitment to combating crime, stating, “We have zero tolerance for criminal elements, and we remain committed to ensuring the safety of all residents and the maintenance of law and order.”
He also urged members of the public to report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station.
