Police foil alleged cult initiation, arrest two in Uyo

Etim Ekpimah

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of the Black Axe Confraternity during an intelligence-led operation in Uyo, the state capital.

The arrests were made on Saturday, February 1, 2026, at about 4:30 p.m., following credible intelligence that a group of suspected cultists were carrying out initiation activities at a secondary school along Oron Road (name withheld).

DSP Timfon John, Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom State Command, said police operatives who stormed the area reportedly met the suspects fleeing the scene upon sighting the patrol team, abandoning a red mini-bus with number plate NYA-164XA.

She added that after a hot pursuit, two suspects, Anitie Isaac (male) and Unyime Effiong (male), were apprehended.

“Items recovered from the scene include one axe, one brown calabash, one bottle of Lord’s alcoholic drink, various types of incense, coloured handkerchiefs and a Neo Black Axe (Neo Lord’s Movement of Africa) sticker.

“The suspects, along with the recovered exhibits, are currently in police custody and are undergoing a thorough investigation,” she said.

The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, reiterated the command’s zero tolerance for cultism and other related crimes, assuring residents that sustained efforts will continue to rid the state of criminal elements.

The CP urged members of the public to support the police by providing timely and credible information to aid crime prevention and detection.