The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested two suspects in separate incidents for unlawful possession of firearms in Ibeno and Eket.
DSP Timfon John, the Command Public Relations Officer, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Sunday.
“On February 22, 2025, at about 11:00 hours, the command received a call from a law abiding citizen, that one Nehemiah Sunday Udo ‘m’, 65 years old, of Ekpene Obo Village in Esit Eket LGA, was in possession of a firearm.
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 the recovered exhibits were taken to the Divisional Headquarters for further investigation.
Exhibits recovered:One double-barrel long gun, One cartridge, One torchlight and One traveller’s bag containing clothes.
During interrogation, the suspect claimed to be a member of the Professional Hunters Association of Nigeria. Investigations are ongoing to ascertain his true identity and mission in the area.
In a separate development, on February 21, 2025, at about 20:10 hours, police operatives on a routine raid and stop-and-search operation along Ikot Udoma Road, Eket, arrested one Emmanuel Sylvanus Ekan ‘m’ in possession of a locally made pistol.
The suspect was immediately taken into custody and detained for further investigation.
The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, fsi, reiterates the Command’s commitment to ensuring the safety of all residents and maintaining law and order.
He urged the public to report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station.