Police arrest 10 suspected cultists, recover weapons in Cross River

The Cross River State Police Command has arrested 10 suspected members of the Axe Men Confraternity and recovered a locally made pistol and different weapons successful Abini community, Biase Local Government Area.

The suspects were arrested astatine astir 5:15 americium on Saturday, August 22, 2026, by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU, Sector 2, pursuing quality gathering and surveillance.

The cognition followed a petition submitted to the Commissioner of Police by members of Abini assemblage connected July 29, 2026, implicit alleged cult activities successful the area.

According to a connection by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, the suspects arrested are 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.

Police said 1 locally made pistol, a conflict axe, dagger, beret bearing a concealed cult logo, a brace of constabulary camouflage trousers and a mobile cardigan were recovered during the operation.

The Command said preliminary interrogation indicated that the suspects allegedly belonged to the Axe Men Confraternity.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, commended the VCRU operatives for what helium described arsenic nonrecreational deployment of intelligence, saying...