The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a suspected armed robber and recovered two locally made pistols and two machetes from his residence in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of the state.
The arrest followed a distress call received by the command in the early hours of September 14, 2026, after a violent attack was reported at Ikot Ekweng Village.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday and made available to journalists in Uyo.
John said police operatives on vehicular patrol were alerted by the Command Control Room and immediately moved to the area, where they met an Inspector Henry, who alleged that he had been attacked by one Ini Mfon.
According to the police spokesperson, Mfon allegedly attacked the inspector with a machete while attempting to dispossess him of his tricycle, resulting in an injury to the officer’s right hand.
The statement read, “The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has recorded another major operational breakthrough in its sustained onslaught against violent crime and the proliferation of illegal firearms across the State, following the arrest of a suspected armed robber and the recovery of two locally made pistols and two machetes in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area.
“The arrest followed a swift response by Police operatives to a distress alert in the early hours of 14 September 2026. At about 0500 hours, operatives of the Command, while on vehicular patrol, received an emergency alert from the Command Control Room directing them to Ikot Ekweng Village, Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, following a reported violent attack”, part of the statement said.
John added that the operatives subsequently traced the suspect to his residence, where he was arrested.
She said a search of the premises led to the recovery of two locally made pistols and two machetes allegedly found in his possession.
“A subsequent search of the premises led to the recovery of two locally made pistols and two machetes, allegedly found in his possession,” the statement said.
The police said detectives were investigating the source of the weapons and checking whether they had been used in previous criminal operations or if the suspect had links to other criminal groups within or outside the local government area.
John said the suspect remained in police custody and was assisting with the investigation, while the recovered weapons had been secured as exhibits.
The Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, commended the operatives for their prompt response and professionalism, saying the arrest underscored the command’s determination to combat violent crime.
Azare said the command would continue with intelligence-led policing, targeted raids and aggressive patrols aimed at recovering illegal firearms and disrupting criminal networks across the state.
“We will continue to intensify intelligence-led policing, targeted raids, aggressive patrols and other lawful security operations aimed at recovering illegal firearms and dismantling criminal networks across the State. Any credible information supplied to the Police will be treated with utmost confidentiality”, he said.
The commissioner further warned that Akwa Ibom would not become a safe haven for armed robbery suspects and persons unlawfully possessing firearms, while urging residents to provide information on suspicious activities and the movement of illegal weapons.
