Fear returns to A’Ibom community after suspected cultists’ bail

Nkereuwem Effiong

Fear has returned to Ifa Atai community in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State after about seven suspected cultists arrested during an alleged initiation ceremony were granted bail and returned to the area.

The suspects were arrested by the police on August 2, 2026, during an operation at a suspected cult camp in Ifa Ikot Abia Forest, where residents alleged they were undergoing initiation into a group identified as Red Skin, also known as Junior Vikings.

They were arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court in Uyo on August 18 and subsequently granted bail.

Their return has, however, triggered fresh anxiety among residents, who allege that some of the suspects have resumed moving around the community and have been threatening residents.

Some residents also accused the suspects of involvement in robbery, looting and vandalism, although those allegations have not been independently established.

A lawyer familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity, questioned the decision to grant the suspects bail, arguing that the circumstances surrounding their arrest warranted closer judicial scrutiny.

He referred to the Akwa Ibom State Cultism and Other Violent Behaviour (Prohibition) Order, 2020, made pursuant to Section 70 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. 38, Volume 2, Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2000.

According to him, the 2020 order prohibits the activities of several cult groups, including Vikings and Red Skins. He therefore questioned whether sufficient consideration had been given to the applicable legal provisions and the circumstances in which the suspects were arrested.

Residents say the issue has gone beyond the question of bail and is now about whether people in the community can feel safe.

Mrs Ime Akpan, a widow, said residents were increasingly worried about what she described as inadequate protection following the suspects’ release.

Akpan alleged that some of those released had been celebrating their return and issuing threats, and appealed to the police, judiciary and other authorities to intervene before the situation escalated.

“We are now living in fear,” she said, urging the authorities to review the circumstances surrounding the suspects’ release and strengthen security in the community.

Another resident, Obong Wisdom Akpan, questioned what he described as inconsistencies in the handling of bail applications involving alleged cult-related offences.

He alleged that some suspects were released quickly while individuals perceived to be political opponents could face prolonged detention. He cited the recent remand of the Esit Eket princess, Barrister Ewah Okpo, as an example of what he said had fuelled concerns among residents about equal treatment under the law.

However, the allegation about unequal treatment remains the resident’s claim and was not independently established in the account.

The residents are now calling for increased security in Ifa Atai and Ifa Ikot Abia, particularly around areas allegedly associated with cult activities.

They also want the police and other security agencies to investigate allegations of threats, robbery, looting and vandalism attributed to some of the released suspects.

For the residents, the concern is not simply that the suspects were granted bail, but what they say has followed their return: a renewed sense of insecurity in a community that had hoped their arrest would bring relief. They urged the Akwa Ibom State Government, the police and the judiciary to ensure that the matter is handled strictly within the law while taking steps to prevent any escalation of violence or criminal activity.