A welder has been taken into police custody in Uso, Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, following the recovery of a locally manufactured pistol from his workshop.
The suspect, identified as Andy Giwa, was arrested by operatives of the Uso Police Division after the command received information alleging that he was handling a firearm at his workshop on Imogun Street.
According to the police, the information was received on September 11, 2026, prompting operatives to immediately move to the area, where they recovered the pistol and apprehended Giwa.
During preliminary questioning, the suspect allegedly denied ownership of the firearm, claiming that it belonged to another man who was no longer at the location.
The police said efforts were ongoing to establish the identity and whereabouts of the alleged owner, while investigators would also determine how the weapon got into the workshop and what it was intended to be used for.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, adding that the Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, had directed that the matter be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
Jimoh said the investigation would establish whether the suspect acted alone or had links with other individuals involved in the manufacture, possession or intended use of the firearm.
The command commended the individual who supplied the information that led to the recovery, saying the timely intervention had potentially prevented the weapon from being used to commit a crime.
The police appealed to residents to provide credible information on suspicious activities and illegal firearms, assuring informants that their identities would be protected. The command also reiterated its determination to curb the circulation and unlawful possession of firearms through intelligence-led policing across Ondo State.