The Anambra State Police Command has arrested two men and recovered a six-round English-made pistol during a stop-and-search operation in Nnewi North Local Government Area.

The suspects were arrested on Saturday, September 26, during a visibility patrol conducted by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Nnewi Sector, and Police Mobile Force 54.

According to the command, the officers stopped two men travelling on a Tiger 150 motorcycle without a registration number within the Nnewi North metropolis.

The suspects were identified as 33-year-old Ekwulugo Chiemierie Joseph and 29-year-old Enyiobi Geoffrey Somtochukwu.

A search of the men led to the recovery of the firearm, after which both suspects were taken into custody.

Police said the suspects are assisting investigators as efforts continue to establish how they obtained the pistol, where it came from and what they intended to use it for.

Investigators are also examining other circumstances surrounding the recovery and whether the suspects have links to additional criminal activities.

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Nnanna Oji Ama, said the recovery highlighted the importance of police visibility and coordinated stop-and-search operations in preventing crime.

He said such operations were particularly useful in detecting and disrupting the movement of firearms and other dangerous weapons that could be used to facilitate violent crimes.

The commissioner assured residents that the command would sustain proactive patrols, intelligence-led operations and strategic stop-and-search activities across the state.

He also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide security agencies with credible information about suspicious individuals, movements or activities in their communities.