There was tension in Nkpor, Onitsha, Anambra State, on Friday, as police operatives smashed a suspected arms trafficking syndicate and arrested a 65-year-old man in possession of 1,100 live rounds of ammunition.
The suspect, identified as Akpan Godwin, was apprehended by men of the Rapid Response Squad, Akwuzu, following what police described as “credible intelligence.”
Spokesman for the command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Saturday, describing it as a major breakthrough in the clampdown on illegal arms proliferation in the state.
“The suspect was caught with 1,100 rounds of live ammunition. During interrogation, he confessed to being involved in the illegal sale of ammunition and named other individuals connected to the trade,” Ikenga said.
According to him, the police are now on the trail of Godwin’s alleged accomplices.
“Our operatives have intensified efforts to uncover and apprehend all those linked to this criminal network. Further developments will be communicated in due course,” he added.
Residents in Nkpor expressed shock over the incident, describing it as another reminder of the growing arms trade fueling insecurity in the Southeast.
Security analysts warn that the recovery of such a large cache of live ammunition points to an entrenched black market in weapons, with serious implications for the fight against violent crime in Anambra and beyond.
The arrest comes at a time the Anambra State Police Command is stepping up raids and surveillance to curb the flow of illegal arms into communities across the state.
