The Cross River Police Command says it has 11 persons in its custody over alleged cult initiation activities, near the Engineering Department of the University of Calabar (UniCal).
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Sunday Eitokpah, disclosed this in a statement issued in Calabar on Friday.
Eitokpah stated that operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, Satellite Town, Calabar, stormed the venue of the alleged initiation at about 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, October 22, following a distress call from the university.
He added that the operatives worked with the university’s internal security personnel to cordon off a nearby bush, where the initiation was reportedly taking place.
He identified the suspects as Ogar Favour, 25; David Akpa, 27; Gift Emmanuel, 24; Aaron Favour, 24; David Abubu, 25; Victor Emmanuel Eyibo, 26; Oghenemaro Hendrix, 24; James Ede Joseph, 22; Charles Ekeng, 21; Edu Nkanu, 26; and Ogabor Odey, 24.
The PPRO further disclosed that the police were investigating the suspects to establish their individual roles and the circumstances surrounding the reported activity.
He added that the operatives recovered a Lexus 350 saloon car, reportedly abandoned by a fleeing individual, and three motorcycles during the operation.
According to him, investigators have secured the recovered items, but had yet to establish any connection between them and the suspected cult-related activity.
He said that investigations into the incident were ongoing.
Eitokpah quoted the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ajo Ordue, to have reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating cultism and other violent crimes through intelligence-led policing and collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
The command urged members of the public to assist with credible information to help prevent crime and protect lives and property.
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