By Uko Etim
UYO—Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have dismantled an illegal firearms fabrication workshop in the Okobo and Eket axes, recovering 15 guns and arresting two suspects during a coordinated raid in the early hours of Tuesday.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John who revealed this in a statement in Uyo on Tuesday, said that the operation was carried out at about 3:00 a.m. by the newly established Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU.
The unit is a strategic initiative of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, aimed at tackling violent crimes and emerging security threats.
According to John, the raid was intelligence-led and targeted locations suspected of local fabrication, servicing, and repair of firearms.
“In line with the strategic directives of the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, fsi, aimed at curbing the spread of small arms and light weapons, operatives of the Command, acting on credible intelligence, conducted a coordinated intelligence-led raid on identified locations suspected to be used for the local fabrication, servicing, and repair of firearms within the Okobo and Eket axes of the State.
“The operation, which was carried out in the early hours of Tuesday, 2nd June, 2026, at about 0300hrs, yielded significant results. During the raid, the operatives recovered the following exhibits: three (3) English-made double-barrel guns, two (2) English-made single-barrel guns, ten (10) locally fabricated single-barrel guns, four (4) iron barrels used in gun fabrication, two (2) gas cylinders, two (2) toolboxes containing various fabricated implements and tools used for the construction, servicing, and repair of firearms, One (1) live cartridge.”
She said the items recovered strongly indicate the existence of an illegal arms manufacturing and maintenance network operating within the affected communities.
The PPRO said that two suspects identified as Effiong Ekpenyong, aged 39, and Godwin Nduaesa, aged 78 were arrested during the operation.
According to her, preliminary investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of their involvement and to apprehend other members of the syndicate.
John further added that CP Baba Azare had reiterated the Command’s commitment to dismantling illegal arms trafficking and manufacturing rings, noting that the proliferation of small arms fuels violent crimes including armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, and communal clashes.
She said Azare warned individuals involved in the illegal production, repair, distribution, or possession of firearms to desist immediately or face prosecution.
