Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have apprehended two persons in two separate operations for alleged unlawful possession of firearms in Ibeno and Eket local government areas of the state.
Police Public Petitions Officer (PPRO) of the Command, DSP Timfon John, on Sunday recalled that the first incident occurred on February 22, 2025, at about 11am.
DSP John said the operations followed intelligence from a law-abiding citizen that a 65-years-old Nehemiah Sunday Udo of Ekpene Obo village in Esit Eket LGA, was in possession of a firearm.
She explained that “The suspect was accosted along Ibeno Beach Road and taken to the village Head’s palace,” adding that “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.”
The police spokesperson listed the recovered exhibits from the suspect to include 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 (PHAN),” the PPRO said.
She assured that investigations were ongoing to ascertain his true identity and mission in the area.
In a separate development, John recalled that “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 LGA arrested one Emmanuel Sylvanus Ekan, in possession of a locally made pistol.”
She added that the suspect was immediately taken into custody and detained for further investigation.
Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Baba Azare warned that the Command has zero tolerance for criminal elements, reiterating the Command’s commitment to ensuring the safety of all residents and maintenance of law and order.
The CP also urged the public to report any suspicious characters to the nearest police station.
