The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State said on Monday that it has arrested two suspected members of the Black Axe confraternity, following an intelligence-led operation.
Timfon John, the police spokesperson in Akwa Ibom, stated this in a statement on Monday in Uyo.
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Ms John, a deputy superintendent of police, stated that the arrest took place on 1 February, at about 4:30 p.m., following credible intelligence that a group of suspected cultists were conducting initiation activities at a secondary school along Oron Road in Uyo.
According to Ms John, when the operatives arrived at the scene, the suspects fled on sighting them and abandoned a red mini-bus. She said the operatives chased the suspects and arrested two of them.
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“Items recovered at the scene include one axe, one brown calabash, one bottle of Lord’s alcoholic drink, different types of incense, coloured handkerchiefs and one Neo Black Axe.”
While reiterating the command’s zero tolerance for cultism and related crimes, the spokesperson also disclosed that the suspects are currently in police custody, undergoing investigation.
She assured residents that the police would continue in their effort to rid Akwa Ibom of criminals.
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The Black Axe was among the 31 cult groups proscribed by the Akwa Ibom State Government in 2018.
Vikings, KKK, Buccaneers, Mafia, Luttox (Junior Black Axe), Debam, Dewell, Icelanders, Red Skins, Pirates, Amoc, and Akwa Marines are among the outlawed cult groups.
Others are The Red Skins, St. Stephens, Dewell, Sept 11 Group, Secret Sons of Satan, King Cobra, J.V (Junior Vikings), Bats, Predators, Black Ladies, Black Cross, Scavengers, Skylolo, Sons of Nights, Blood Brotherhood, Junior Buccaneers, White Angels, and Musket.
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There have been intermittent cases of cult violence and cult-related killings in the state.
For instance, one person, identified simply as Ekpe, a suspected member of Vikings from EyoAbasi community in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, was beheaded by rival gang members, while another, identified as Paul Eyo, a suspected member of Black Axe from EyoAbasi too, was hacked to dead with a machete during a cult clash in October 2024 in the state.
In July last year, the police in the state recovered a human skull from a suspected cultist, Pius Pius.
Police said the suspect specialised in vandalising electric transformers in some parts of the state.
(NAN)
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