Police arrest 10 suspected cultists in C’River, recover firearms

The Cross River State Police Command has arrested 10 suspected members of the Axe Men Confraternity and recovered a locally made pistol and other exhibits during an intelligence-led operation in Abini community, Biase Local Government Area of the state.

The arrests were carried out by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, Sector 2, following sustained intelligence gathering, surveillance and operational follow-up.

Confirming the incident, the Cross River State Police Command spokesperson, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, said in a statement issued to journalists in Calabar on Saturday that the operation followed a petition submitted by the Abini community to the Commissioner of Police on July 29, 2026, over suspected cult activities.

The statement read, “The Cross River State Police Command has arrested ten (10) suspected members of the Axe Men Confraternity and recovered a locally made pistol and other exhibits following sustained operational follow-up, tactical intelligence and detailed surveillance by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Sector 2.”

According to the statement, “The petition prompted the Command to commence detailed intelligence gathering and surveillance aimed at identifying individuals allegedly involved in cult-related activities in the community.

“At about 5:15 am on Saturday, August 22, VCRU operatives moved into the community and arrested 10 suspects identified 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.”

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The spokesman disclosed that the items recovered during the operation included one locally made pistol, a battle axe, a dagger, a beret bearing a secret cult logo, a pair of police camouflage trousers and a mobile cardigan.

According to the police, the suspects allegedly admitted during preliminary interrogation to belonging to the Axe Men Confraternity.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, commended the VCRU operatives for what he described as professionalism and effective deployment of intelligence, adding that the command would continue its efforts to apprehend other suspects.

“I commend the VCRU operatives for their professionalism and effective deployment of intelligence. This operation underscores the practical application of the Command’s D-C-I-I-D-D-T policing strategy, particularly Intelligence-Led Policing and Community Policing, in identifying and disrupting criminal activities before they escalate into threats to public safety,” he said.

He urged residents to continue providing credible and timely information to the police, stressing that community partnership remained vital to effective crime prevention.