Police arrest 54 cultists in Akwa Ibom communities

Following recent cases of cult clashes, harassment and daylight robbery cases in Uyo and its environs, Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested 54 suspected cultists from communities across the state.

The command has also launched an operation to fish out the remaining culprits to ensure that sanity is restored to the affected areas.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko MacDon, who made the disclosure while parading the suspected cultists at the state Police Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo on Tuesday said the command is out to enforce the cultism PROSCRIPTION ORDER.

He said: “Following the disturbing report of cult clash in Obot Idim, Afaha Ikot Obio Nkan, Nung Udoe and Ikot Odongo, in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, which led to the death of three suspected cultists, the Commissioner of Police Akwa Ibom State, CP AMIENGHEME ANDREW, fdc deployed Operatives of Ibesikpo Division and  Anti-Cultism Unit to restore law and order.

“A total of Thirty-One Suspected Cultists were arrested. While the operation to fish out the remaining culprits is still ongoing, sanity has since been restored to Ibesikpo Asutan and its environs.

“In a similar vein, (16) Suspected Cultists have been arrested in Oruk Anam Local Government Area in connection with the Cult disturbances in Inen Clan. Suspects have confessed and made useful statements pertaining to their involvements in the killings and disruption of economic activities in the Area.

“On the other hand, seven suspected Cultists have also been arrested in Etinan Local Government Area. While normalcy has been restored to the Area, the intensive patrol is still ongoing.

The Command also reported an arrest of one David Joshua Okon, a student of West Itam Secondary School who stabbed and killed one Solomon Bassey, of the same School in a cult-related SS2 and SS3 fight and calls for inculcation and adherence to family values. (Daily Independent)