Police raid ‘church’ hideout, arrest seven suspects

Etim Ekpimah

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has uncovered a criminal hideout disguised as a church, arresting seven suspects and recovering firearms and other items in a targeted, intelligence-led operation.

The raid, carried out in the early hours of Tuesday, 8 April 2026, followed credible intelligence that suspected criminals were operating from a compound posing as a place of worship. Police operatives moved in at about 6:00 am to execute the operation.

Seven suspects were arrested during the raid. They are identified as Preacher Brain Ebeka, Kenneth Eziekiel, Dickson Ndueso, Abang Rowland, Esther Elijah Okon, Joy Elijah Okon, and another Esther Elijah Okon.

A search of the premises led to the recovery of many items, including two locally made double-barrel guns, five expended cartridges, four motorcycles, three large generators and ten mobile phones. Officers also recovered a police crest, four pairs of jungle boots, a peak cap, a saw blade, a spanner, multiple vehicle number plates, five machetes and a special forces vest.

Other items recovered include bottles of suspected “spiritual oil” and an enlarged photograph believed to be linked to ongoing investigations.

Preliminary findings indicate that the building was being used as a front for criminal activities, raising concerns over the misuse of religious centres as cover for unlawful operations.

The Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, has ordered a full investigation and directed officers to intensify efforts to apprehend the principal suspect, who remains at large.

The command warned that there would be no hiding place for criminals in the state, stressing that any attempt to conceal illegal activities under any guise would be met with the full force of the law.

Azare therefore urged residents to remain vigilant and to support the police with timely and credible information, as the command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property in the state.