The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested 15 suspected cultists in Atia Coastal Village, Ibeno Local Government Area, recovering two suspected stolen outboard engines, a motorcycle and substances suspected to be illicit drugs during a targeted raid.
The suspects were arrested on Tuesday, October 20, at about 5 p.m., when police operatives raided suspected cult hideouts and identified criminal black spots in the coastal community.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, saying the operation was part of efforts to dismantle criminal hideouts and curb cult-related activities in the state.
According to the statement, two of the suspects, identified as Ubong Dominic, alias “Don Sars,” 35, and Ndifreke Paul, alias “Black Satan,” 29, allegedly confessed during preliminary interrogation to belonging to the Vikings and Iceland confraternities.
The police said investigations were ongoing to establish their respective affiliations, determine their involvement in cult-related activities and identify other persons allegedly connected to the suspected criminal networks.
Other suspects arrested include Etim Oboho, 46, while 12 others were also taken into custody. The suspects were reported to be from different local government areas of the state.
Items recovered during the operation included wraps of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, substances suspected to be methamphetamine, commonly called “Ice,” two 8-horsepower outboard engines suspected to have been stolen, and a motorcycle with registration number KTS 346 WZ, also suspected to be stolen.
Police also recovered cult-related berets, items bearing Vikings inscriptions, bottles containing substances suspected to be charms and five mobile phones.
The command said some suspects escaped into surrounding creeks during the operation, adding that efforts had been intensified to apprehend them and recover other possible exhibits.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, warned individuals involved in cultism, drug-related offences and other criminal activities to desist, stressing that the command would sustain intelligence-led operations and other lawful measures to arrest and prosecute offenders.
“The Command will continue to deploy intelligence-led policing, targeted raids and other lawful operational strategies to identify, arrest and prosecute offenders,” the statement quoted the commissioner as saying.
The police urged residents, community leaders and other stakeholders to provide credible and timely information to assist security operations, while assuring the public of continued efforts to protect lives and property across Akwa Ibom State.
The command said investigations into the arrests and recovered items were ongoing.
