Navy hands over 42 suspected cultists to Cross River govt

The Nigerian Navy Victory Ship (NNVS) has handed over 42 suspected cultists to the Cross River Government for onward investigation and prosecution.

Briefing journalists on Tuesday in Calabar, the Commander of NNVS, Vincent Okeke, said the suspects were arrested on Sunday through a tip-off by concerned individuals.

Mr Okeke, a rear admiral, who was represented by Ibrahim Gwaska, a captain, said the Navy standby team was informed that the suspects were gathered in Akpabuyo local government area of the state for initiation and other activities.

According to him, intelligence gathering revealed that it was evidently clear that there was going to be a clash between the Klans and Black Axe confraternities.

“We are here to do a routine handover of 42 suspects to the Cross River Government representative.

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“Accordingly, the base responded through a tip-off and cordoned the area in Akpabuyo. In that raid, we arrested 61 suspected cultists.

“On arrival, preliminary investigations have been conducted and having concluded the investigation, 42 out of the arrested 61 persons were confirmed to be cultists accordingly.

“It is on this regard that we will be handing over the suspects to the state government and officials of the Anti-Cultism and Kidnapping Unit for onward investigation and prosecution,” he said.

In the same vein, on May 24, the navy also arrested a wooden boat laden with 130 drums of palm oil smuggled from Cameroon alongside 10 suspects

The State Security Adviser, Southern Senatorial District, Ani Esin, who received the suspected cultists, commended the Navy for a successful operation.

Mr Esin said the Navy acted swiftly on the tip-off that was given to them.

“As a state government, we are doing our best in ensuring that the issue of cultism is dealt with squarely.

“We are going to hand over the suspects to the relevant security agency for onward investigation and prosecution.

“For few days now, we have been on operation with other security agencies in making sure that all suspected cultists are arrested and prosecuted accordingly,” he said.

Mr Esin, thereafter, handed over the suspects to an official of the Anti-Cultism and kidnapping Squad, Mr Ogini Chukwuma for onward prosecution.

(NAN)