Cult Crackdown: 10 Suspects Arrested As Cross River Police Seize Pistol, Daggers
By IFIOK UDOM
THE Cross River State Police Command has arrested 10 suspected members of the Axe Men Confraternity in Abini community, Biase Local Government Area, and recovered a locally made pistol and other items.
Police Public Relations Officer ASP Sunday Eitokpah said operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, Sector 2, carried out the operation after receiving a petition from the Abini community on 29 July.
According to the command, officers spent several weeks gathering intelligence and monitoring the suspects before moving in.
The police identified the suspects as Jester Enyi, 25; Godwill Mansala, 22; Prosper Okey, 23; Emmanuel Uno, 26; Onyebuchi Eyong, 22; Elisha Emmanuel, 27; Christian Esu, 25; Daniel Uno, 23; Nelson Ibete, 23; and Roland Uno, 18.
Operatives recovered one locally made pistol, a battle axe and a dagger during the operation. They also seized a beret bearing a secret cult logo and a pair of police camouflage trousers.
Police said preliminary questioning led the suspects to allegedly admit membership of the Axe Men Confraternity. The allegations remain subject to further investigation and due legal process.
Commissioner of Police Ajo Geoffrey Ordue praised the VCRU team for combining intelligence gathering with information from the community.
The command said investigators are still working to identify and arrest other people allegedly connected to the case. It also assured that the police would investigate the suspects and prosecute anyone found culpable in accordance with the law.
