Cross River Command Cracks Down on Prohibited Firearms, Busts Unlicensed Vigilante Squad to Bolster Public Safety

 

State Commissioner of Police Rashid Afegbua

By Oluchi Omai — 29 October 2025

The Cross River State Police Command says it has arrested three men in Ikom after officers discovered they were openly carrying prohibited firearms — a move the command describes as part of its efforts to curb the proliferation of unlicensed weapons and protect lives and property.

According to a statement from the command, members of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad (the “Dragon Team”) attached to Ikom intercepted a group at Price Nico Junction, along Border Road, during a routine patrol on 29 October. Officers found the group brandishing firearms and immediately detained three men for further questioning.

The suspects are named as:

• Ayang Awunge Eyam, male, 38;

• Enya Agban Osa, male, 43; and

• Ntun Obim Enim, male, 34.

Police say officers recovered three firearms from the men: an English-made pump-action shotgun loaded with six live cartridges; a locally manufactured long-barrel revolver containing one live cartridge; and a second locally made long gun. The suspects told investigators they were members of a vigilante group but admitted they did not hold licences for the weapons, the statement added. They are currently being interrogated.

Legal context and police response

State Commissioner of Police Rashid Afegbua, psc, mnips, emphasised the legal implications of the interception, noting that the Firearms Act forbids possession of certain categories of weapons without express authorisation from either the President or the Inspector-General of Police. The commissioner said the guns recovered “fall within some of these categories,” signalling potential criminal liability for the suspects.

He also urged residents to acquaint themselves with the law, advising members of the public to “study the Act carefully for guidance.” The command’s public relations officer confirmed the suspects remain in custody as investigations continue.

What the seizure means for public safety

The discovery of both a commercial pump-action firearm and locally fabricated long guns in the hands of an unlicensed group underlines the challenges police face in policing informal security actors. While community-based vigilante groups often present themselves as protectors, the command’s intervention highlights the legal and safety risks that arise when such groups arm themselves without oversight or licence.

Police say the arrests will be followed by interrogation and appropriate legal action. The swift response by the Anti-Kidnapping Squad reflects the command’s stated priority to stem the spread of prohibited firearms and to reinforce public safety across the state.

CSP Irene Ugbo, Anipr

Police Public Relations Officer

For: Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command