Police apprehend four suspected kidnappers, cultists in Akwa Ibom

The Nigeria Police Force, Akwa Ibom State Command, has said it has apprehended four suspects for cultism and kidnapping around Eket and its environs.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Akwa Ibom Command, ASP Timfon John, who disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Uyo on Monday, noted that the suspects were arrested based on complaints from residents.

She said that items recovered from the suspects included; one English pump action rifle, one short machine gun, one locally made revolver pistol, 11 rounds of 9mm ammunition and four rounds of live cartridges.

The statement is in parts, “Sequel to the complaints received by the Command on an inter-confraternity clash between different cult groups ongoing in Eket and its environs.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Waheed Ayilara, gave a matching order to the DPO Eket Division, SP Felix Ekpoudom for the perpetrators to be fished out and prosecuted.

“In compliance with these directives; on April 9 at about 4:45 pm, based on credible information at disposal operatives of Eket Division arrested the one Godwin Adam (aka) Nasarawa ‘m’ 35 of Idong Useme Village.

“Isaac Samuel Bassey ‘m’ 25 of Assang Usong Inyong, Emmanuel Hanson Isong ‘m’ 29 of Idung Uso Village, all of Eket Local Government Area.

“Suspects confessed to being members of Black Axe Confraternity and also suspected to be involved in the gruesome murder of one Kufre Usoro (aka) Promzy ‘m’ 32, said to be a member of Klanz Cult group, who was murdered on April 4,” John said.

The PPRO added that on April 25, based on intelligence, the command also arrested one suspects, who had been on the wanted list of the command for being a ringleader terrorising Eket/Etinan/Ekparakwa Axis.