The Akwa Ibom State Police Command have arrested two individuals in Ibeno and Eket for unlawful possession of firearms, as part of ongoing efforts to curb crime and enhance public safety.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, in a statement indicated that the arrests took place during separate operations on February 21 and 22, 2025.
According to the statement, a law-abiding citizen alerted the police that a man was in possession of a firearm.
“The suspect, identified as Nehemiah Sunday Udo, 65, of Ekpene Obo Village in Esit Eket LGA, was intercepted along Ibeno Beach Road and later handed over to the police for further investigation.
The Statement indicated that , one double-barrel long gun, one cartridge, one torchlight and one traveler’s bag containing clothes were recovered from the suspect
“The suspect claimed to be a member of the Professional Hunters Association of Nigeria, but police have launched further investigations to verify his claims and purpose in the area.
In another operation, the statement said, police operatives conducting a routine stop-and-search along Ikot Udoma Road, Eket, arrested Emmanuel Sylvanus Ekan in possession of a locally made pistol.
“The suspect was taken into custody for further investigation to determine the source of the weapon and any potential criminal affiliations.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, fsi, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to tackling crime and ensuring residents remain safe. He called on the public to report suspicious activities and assured that all necessary steps would be taken to prevent the proliferation of illegal firearms.
The Akwa Ibom Police Command urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies to enhance law enforcement efforts in the state.