Akwa Ibom police arrest UNIUYO graduate for alleged arms fabrication
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a University of Uyo graduate of Animal Science, Koabasi Marsodi, for allegedly operating an illegal arms’ fabrication facility.
Another suspect arrested along with Koabasi was reportedly Marsodi John, both indigenes of Uya Oron in Oron Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The police said that the first suspect had confessed to producing narcotic-laced chin-chin and engaged in the illegal fabrication and modification of firearms, including cutting long guns into shorter, concealable weapons.
The spokesperson of the command, Timfon John, who stated this in a press release on Monday, 16th March 2026, said that operatives raided the suspected criminal facility based on credible intelligence reports that illicit chin-chin snacks laced with Indian hemp were being produced and distributed from the location.
According to Timfon, further investigations confirmed the intelligence the police obtained about the facility.
“The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has recorded another significant operational breakthrough in its ongoing “Operation Zero Black Spots”, a strategic initiative aimed at dismantling criminal hideouts, illegal arms production centres, and drug networks across the state,” the statement read.
“On 15 March 2026 at about 2100 hours, operatives of the Command, acting on credible intelligence, stormed a suspected criminal facility located at Idem Street, off Itu Road, Uyo.
“The operation was carried out by operatives of the Command following intelligence reports that illicit chin-chin snacks laced with Indian hemp were being produced and distributed from the location.
“Upon raiding the premises, police operatives discovered that the facility was not only being used for the production of narcotic-laced food items but also as a clandestine arms and ammunition fabrication workshop.
“During a thorough search of the premises, the following exhibits were recovered: Eight (8) refilled cartridges, Six (6) empty expended cartridges, One (1) bag of gunpowder, refilling pellets, a pack of striking pins One rifle butt, filing, cutting and drilling machines used for weapon fabrication, filing and cutting stones, assorted sets of saws, two machetes, substance suspected to be Indian hemp, packets of chin-chin suspected to be laced with Indian hemp, two pairs of black military boots, belts and jacket, one laptop computer, three live turtles suspected to be used for charms and other incriminating items
“During the operation, two suspects were arrested, namely: Marsodi John (M) and Koabasi Marsodi (M)
“Both suspects are indigenes of Uya Oron in Oron Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.”
The statement continued, “The suspects are currently in police custody, while discreet investigation is ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal network mentioned during interrogation.”
