Police arrest 10 suspected cultists, recover pistol, charms, N400,000 in Akwa Ibom

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested 10 suspected cultists in separate intelligence-led operations carried out in Esit Eket Local Government Area of the state.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists in Uyo on Saturday.

According to John, five of the suspects — Benjamin James, Moses Asuquo, Isaac Jimmy, Akaniyene Ekpo and Aniekan Samuel — had been on the police command’s watchlist.

She said operatives recovered a locally made pistol, charms, a machete, a Point-of-Sale (POS) machine, suspected cannabis sativa seeds and N400,000 during a search conducted as part of the operation.

The police spokesperson added that the recovered items had been taken into custody, while investigations were ongoing to establish their possible links to other cases under investigation.

“In separate intelligence-led operations carried out by operatives of the Command, a total of ten (10) suspected cultists were arrested, while a locally made pistol, dangerous weapons, charms, suspected cannabis sativa seeds, cult regalia, and other incriminating exhibits were recovered.”

John further disclosed that five other suspects — Destiny Moses, 20; Boniface Clement, 23; Raphael Offiong, 27; Victor Obot, 27; and Sunday Victor, 23 — were apprehended at a guest house where they allegedly gathered unlawfully, causing panic in the area.

She said the arrests followed a distress call received from a member of the public on July 31, 2026, reporting that suspected cultists had gathered at a guest house and were allegedly firing shots sporadically into the air.

She added that the suspects fled in different directions when they noticed the arrival of the police patrol team, but operatives were able to apprehend five of them.

Items recovered at the scene included an abandoned red Mercedes-Benz C300 saloon car with visible bullet damage, a jack knife wrapped in a red ribbon, two face caps bearing insignia associated with proscribed cult groups and three empty bottles of alcoholic beverages.

“Preliminary investigation indicates that the suspects are members of the proscribed Supreme Vikings Confraternity, SVC, also known as De Norsemen Klan. Efforts have been intensified to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover additional incriminating exhibits.”

The police command said investigations into the arrests were ongoing, while efforts continued to track down other suspected members who escaped from the scene.