The State Police Command in Akwa Ibom has arrested four suspected cultists and kidnappers in the state.
According to the PUNCH, a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Timfon John, on Monday confirmed that the suspects were arrested at various locations in Eket Local Government Area of the state after credible information.
The statement added that an English pump action rifle, one short machine gun, one locally made pistol, and 11 rounds of 9mm of live cartridges were recovered from the suspects.
The suspects included one Godwin Adam, 35 years; Isaac Samuel Bassey, 25 years; Emmanuel Hanson Isong ‘m’, 29 years; and one Victor Usoro Eyire, ‘m’, 35 years.
Timfon said, “Sequel to the complaints received by the command on the inter-confraternity clash between different cult groups in Eket and its environs, the Commissioner of Police, Waheed Ayilara, gave a matching order to the DPO Eket Division, SP Felix Ekpoudom, for the perpetrators to be fished out and prosecuted.
“In compliance with these directives, on April 9, 2024 at about 4:45 pm, based on credible information, operatives of the Eket Division arrested one Godwin Adam Aka Nasarawa, ‘m’, 35 years of Idong Useme Village; one Isaac Samuel Bassey, ‘m’, 25 years of Assang Usong Inyong; and one Emmanuel Hanson Isong ‘m’ 29 years of Idung Uso Village, all of Eket L.G.A.
“Suspects confessed to being members of the Black Axe Confraternity and also suspected to be involved in the gruesome murder of one Kufre Usoro aka Promzy ‘m’ 32 years said to be a member of Klanz Cult group who was murdered on Thursday, April 4, 2024.
“Furthermore, in pursuit of others at large, on 25/4/2024, at about 2:00 pm, the Divisional Police Officer of Eket Division, acting on intelligence gathered, swiftly mobilized police operatives from the Division to Eket-Etinan Road and arrested one Victor Usoro Eyire aka Tender ‘m’ 35 years of Iseyiridua Village, Eket L.G.A., along Eket/Etinan Road.
“The suspect has been on the command’s wanted list for being a ringleader terrorizing the Eket/Etinan/Ekparakwa area. The further effort led to the recovery of one English Pump Action Rifle, one Short Machine Gun, one locally made revolver pistol, eleven rounds of 9mm Ammunitions, and four rounds of live cartridges from their Group Operational Base at Ikot Oku Ikono Village, Uyo L.G.A. Suspect confessed to being a member of Black Axe cult group.”
It said efforts had been intensified to arrest other fleeing gang members and possibly recover their weapons as the command remained resolute in its determination to rid the state of criminal elements.
