By ISAIAH EKA

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom says it has dismantled an illegal local firearms factory in the state and arrested two suspects.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Timfon John on Tuesday in Uyo.

John said the operatives of the command acting on intelligence stormed the factory on Oct. 24 and apprehended the two suspects.

“The Akwa Ibom State Police Command in its relentless efforts to rid the state of crime, has successfully dismantled an illegal firearms fabrication factory and apprehended two suspects in a targeted intelligence-led operation.

“Credible intelligence had earlier indicated that a 39-year-old male resident of Itam Village, Itu Local Government Area, was actively engaged in the production of locally fabricated and illegal firearms, ” John said.

The police spokesperson said that the firearms were being supplied to armed robbers and cultists in the region for their nefarious operations.

According to her, operatives of the command stormed the factory on Thursday, Oct. 24 at around 18:57 hours.

She said that the operation led to the arrest of the primary suspect and a second individual, a 35-year-old male, believed to be an accomplice in the illegal enterprise.

The PPRO added that during the operation the operatives recovered items used in the fabrication of the illegal firearms.

“The following items were recovered; three fabricated locally made guns, five pieces of metal pipes, two iron rods, and assorted copper wires.

“Also recovered included two flat metals designed for fabricating gun butts, among other items,” she said.

John said that investigation had begun to uncover the full extent of the suspects’ network, identify their clients, and get possible links of their operations to other criminal activities.

The police spokesperson said that the suspects would be charged to Court as soon as investigations were concluded.

John quoted the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Mohammad Azare, as urging members of the public to continue to provide timely and credible information on suspicious activities within their communities.

“The CP also assured the public that any information received would be treated with utmost confidentiality,” she said. (NAN)