…Five suspects arrested in Esit Eket operation, five others nabbed after alleged cult gathering
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has announced the arrest of 10 suspected cultists in separate intelligence-led operations across the state, with the recovery of a locally made pistol, machete, charms, suspected cannabis sativa seeds, cult regalia and other exhibits.
The Command, in a statement issued on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, and made available to NewsNectarNG, she said the operations were part of its sustained efforts to tackle cultism, violent crimes and other criminal activities in the state.
According to the statement, the first operation was conducted on August 4, 2026, at about 3 p.m., following credible intelligence and an ongoing investigation into cult-related activities.
Police operatives reportedly stormed Akpatong Village in Esit Eket Local Government Area, where five suspected members of a criminal gang on the Command’s watchlist were arrested.
The suspects were identified as Benjamin James, Moses Asuquo, Isaac Jimmy, Akaniyene Ekpo and Aniekan Samuel, all residents of Akpatong Village.
Police said a search conducted during the operation led to the recovery of one locally made pistol, charms, a machete, a Point-of-Sale (POS) machine, suspected cannabis sativa seeds and ₦400,000 cash.
The Command said the recovered items had been taken into police custody, while investigation was ongoing to establish their relevance to other cases.
In a separate operation, police said five other suspects were arrested following a distress call from a member of the public on July 31, 2026, reporting an alleged gathering of cultists at a guest house where sporadic shooting was reportedly taking place.
According to the Command, the suspects fled in different directions when they sighted the approaching police patrol team, but operatives were able to apprehend five of them.
They were identified as Destiny Moses, 20; Boniface Clement, 23; Raphael Offiong, 27; Victor Obot, 27; and Sunday Victor, 23.
Items recovered at the scene included a red Mercedes-Benz C300 saloon car with visible bullet damage, a jack knife wrapped with a red ribbon, two face caps bearing the insignia of proscribed cult groups and three empty bottles of alcoholic beverages.
The police said preliminary investigation indicated that the suspects were allegedly members of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity (SVC), also known as De Norsemen Klan, while efforts were ongoing to arrest other fleeing suspects and recover additional exhibits.
Commenting on the operations, the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, commended the operatives for what he described as their courage, professionalism and swift response.
“The Command remains resolute in dismantling criminal networks and ensuring that cultism, armed violence and other threats to public peace have no foothold anywhere within Akwa Ibom State,” Azare said.
The Commissioner also urged members of the public to remain security conscious and provide timely information on suspicious activities to assist the police in preventing crime.
He commended residents whose information, according to him, had continued to support police operations across the state.
The Command assured residents of its commitment to proactive and intelligence-driven policing, while investigations into the cases continue.
