Following its intensified war on cultism, cultist related crimes and violence, operatives of the Akwa Ibom police Command on announce the arrest of a total of 51 cultists from different parts of the state in several operations.
A statement giving detail of the arrests, signed by DSP Bala Elkana on behalf of CP Muazu, the State Police Commissioner said, “On Thursday 7th December 2017, one Miracle Joseph Etukudoh aged 20 years old, of Effiat Offot village in Uyo Local Government Area, who is the gang leader of a notorious armed robbery syndicate specialized in robbing people of their GSM phones, handbags, monies and other personal effects around Uyo and environ was arrested.
“During the course of investigation, three other gang members were arrested and one locally made pistol was recovered in the house of one Uko Effiong Edem of Ikot Oduot village in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.
“Other items recovered from the suspects includes: wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, different types of GSM phones snatched from people, female handbags, electronic devices suspected to be stolen. They all confessed belonging to REDSKIN cult. Case charged to Court
“On Saturday 9th December 2017, Police operatives acting on information busted a group of suspected cultist which converged at Isangedighi Lane, Oron for secret meeting and arrested one Ernest Etim Bassey ‘m’ of No. 4 Eyo-Abasi Estate, Oron and 6 other members of his gang.
“One locally made pistol and photograph of suspect with other group members were recovered. Case charged to Court.
“On Sunday 10th December 2017, following a credible intelligence, Police operatives raided another cult den at Abak town. Twelve (12) suspects were arrested.
“The following items were recovered; military belts, binoculars, Navy beret.
“The suspects confessed to be members of a secret cult engaged in various crimes in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District and its environs. The case has been charged to Court
On Monday 11th December 2017 at about 0115hrs in Oruk Anam Local Government Area Police arrested one Uyoattah Umoh Jacob, a 100 level student of Akwa Ibom State university (Ata Obio Akpa Campus), for cultism.
“One locally made single barrel pistol was recovered from him. Case charged to court.
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On Tuesday 1th December 2017 at about 11. 25pm, one Akanimo Ndarake Akpan and Nsidibe Pius Ekpenyong of No. 43 Idoro road, Uyo were arrested during a routine patrol by the Police.
“One locally made pistol with three live rounds of cartridges were found in their possession. Case has been charged to court.
“On 27th November 2017, at about 11pm, one Daniel Cyril Akpan of Essien Iwole Mkpanak, Ibeno Local Government Area, reported at the station that on the same date at about 9am, while sitting at the frontage of his house at same address, he saw suspects believed to be cultists, armed with machetes, knives, and bottles.
He stated further that when he demanded to know what they are doing, they attacked him with matches, inflicted injury on his left shoulder.
A team of Policemen was dispatched immediately to the scene, one Anietie Bassey Asuquo of Owong Ule village, Ibeno Local Government Area and four others were arrested. One machete and a knife were recovered.
The Police also recalled that on the 3rd of November 2017 a combined team of Police operatives and Operation Thunder, Akwa Ibom State, stormed Ikwe village in Onna Local Government Area and arrested twenty (20) suspected cult members of two (2) different groups namely a.k.a “ISAKABA” and “EKPAT” cult.
The Suspects arrested include: Victor Udofia aged 50 yrs, who confessed to be a leader of ISAKABA cult group and his gang members.
They are Ezekiel Akpan Dickson aged 23 yrs, Monday Ekot Akpan aged 40 yrs, Emmanuel Akpan Ukoh aged 34 yrs, Udo Akpan Tom aged 35 yrs, Sunday Akpan Ekpo aged 35 yrs, Joseph Ufot Robinson aged 30 yrs, Anthony Nda Akpan aged 27 yrs, Nsikan Gregory Dickson aged 34 yrs, Sunshine Ufo Jacob aged 20 yrs and Samuel Ufot Robson aged 25 yrs.
The Police said Okon Andrew aged 52 yrs is the leader of Ekpat cult group and his men as follows: Boniface Augustine Efurudo aged 37 yrs, Charlie Okon Udo aged 26 yrs, Daniel John Umoh aged 20 yrs, Prince Abel Ufot aged 37 yrs, Daniel Okoh Udoh aged 35 yrs, Usoro Friday Johnson aged 25 yrs, Jacob Akpabio aged 28 yrs and Akpabio Jacob aged 54 yrs.
“One locally made pistol, five machetes, and two jack knives were recovered from them. Suspects were charged to Court and remanded in prison custody.”
DSP Bala Elkana
PPRO, Akwa Ibom State.
