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Police arrest 15 suspected cultists during a raid in Atia Coastal Village, Ibeno.
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Suspected cult members allegedly confess to links with Vikings, Iceland confraternities.
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Police recover two suspected stolen outboard engines, a motorcycle, suspected illicit drugs and cult-related items.
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Fleeing suspects escape into surrounding creeks as police intensify manhunt.
October 21, (THEWILL) – The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested 15 suspected cultists and recovered suspected stolen outboard engines, a motorcycle and substances suspected to be illicit drugs during a raid on criminal hideouts in Ibeno Local Government Area.
The suspects were arrested on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at about 5pm during an intelligence-led operation targeting suspected cultists’ hideouts and identified black spots in Atia Coastal Village.
The operation, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, was carried out by operatives of the Ibeno Divisional Police Headquarters in line with directives by the Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, to intensify the fight against cultism, drug-related offences and other criminal activities.
Among those arrested were Dominic, 35, popularly known as “Don Sars”, from Esit Eket Local Government Area; Ndifreke Paul, 29, alias “Black Satan”, from Onna; and Etim Oboho, 46, from Urue-Offong/Oruko, alongside 12 other suspects.
The police said preliminary interrogation indicated that Dominic and Paul allegedly confessed to membership of the Vikings and Iceland confraternities, respectively.
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Investigations are ongoing to establish their affiliations, determine their alleged roles in cult-related activities and identify other persons linked to the suspected criminal networks.
Items recovered during the operation included two suspected stolen eight-horsepower outboard engines, a motorcycle with registration number KTS 346 WZ, wraps of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, substances suspected to be methamphetamine, popularly known as “Ice”, cult-related berets, items bearing Viking inscriptions, bottles containing substances suspected to be charms, and five mobile phones.
The command disclosed that some suspects escaped into surrounding creeks during the operation, adding that efforts had been intensified to apprehend them and recover other possible exhibits.
The Commissioner of Police warned individuals and groups involved in cultism, drug-related offences, and other criminal activities to desist, stressing that the command would continue to deploy intelligence-led policing and targeted raids to identify, arrest and prosecute alleged offenders.
The police urged community leaders and residents to provide credible and timely information to security agencies, assuring the public of its commitment to protecting lives and property and maintaining peace across the state.
