Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Police have arrested a suspected armed robber and recovered two locally made pistols and two machetes following a reported violent attack in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The suspect, identified as Ini Mfon, was arrested at his residence after police operatives responded to a distress alert concerning an attack at Ikot Ekweng Village on September 14, 2026.
According to the police, the incident occurred at about 5am when officers on vehicular patrol received an emergency alert from the Command Control Room directing them to the community.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Timfon John, disclosed the arrest in a statement issued on Monday and made available to journalists in Uyo.
John said the patrol team encountered an Inspector Henry, who alleged that Mfon attacked him with a machete while attempting to dispossess him of his tricycle.
The alleged attack left the inspector with an injury to his right hand. Following the report, police operatives traced the suspect to his residence, where he was arrested.
A search of the premises led to the recovery of two locally made pistols and two machetes, which police said were allegedly found in the suspect’s possession.
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.
Police detectives are investigating the source of the recovered firearms, whether they were used in previous criminal operations and whether the suspect has links to other criminal groups within or outside Ibiono Ibom.
The suspect remains in police custody and is assisting with the investigation, while the recovered weapons have been secured as exhibits. The Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, commended the operatives for their response and urged residents to provide information on suspicious activities and the movement of illegal firearms.
“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.
