Akwa Ibom State Police Command has uncovered a gun-making factory operated by a father and his sons, where firearms of different makes are fabricated and sold to criminals within and outside the state.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph O. Eribo, stated this on Monday during a briefing with journalists at the Command Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo.
Eribo said the gun factory was busted based on credible information available to the command, saying operatives swiftly responded and stormed the factory, arresting one suspect while others managed to escape.
The CP confirmed that one David Nse Emmanuel, a male, was arrested while his father, Akpan Nse Emmanuel, and his brothers, who jointly operated the business, fled the scene.
Items recovered during the operation included seven (7) newly made single-barrel guns, five (5) newly made double-barrel guns, one (1) special steel double-trigger pistol, one (1) broken single-barrel gun, one (1) trigger-handle walking stick knife, and several cut iron pipes used for constructing gun barrels.
Eribo assured that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and trace those who had purchased or ordered firearms from them.