By Deborah Nnamdi
Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have arrested seven suspected cultists in connection with a series of cult-related attacks in Ikot Osurua, Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects, believed to be members of the proscribed Ku Klux Klan confraternity, were apprehended with a human skull in their possession.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday in Uyo by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John.
According to the statement, the arrests followed a report filed on August 25, 2025, by a student of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, who claimed he was ambushed and attacked by members of the cult group.
The victim, who had reportedly renounced his membership of the group, was left unconscious after the assault. The assailants also stole his Redmi 13C smartphone and ₦41,000 in cash.
“On August 28, 2025, operatives of the command arrested seven suspects in connection with a cult-related assault, armed robbery, and unlawful possession of a firearm and a human skull,” the statement read.
The suspects were identified as: Douglas Ambe Esikhene, Stephen Asukwo Effiong, and Saviour Dany Akpan
Others are Emmanuel Friday Umoh, Augustine Uduak Okon, Mary Ating Asukwo, and Itohowo Christopher Uko
DSP John stated that a search conducted at the suspects’ hideout led to the recovery of one locally made short gun, seven live cartridges, a fresh human skull, a bottle containing a substance suspected to be black oil, and another bottle labeled as Guyanese oil—both believed to be used for ritual purposes.
She added that investigations are ongoing and efforts have been intensified to track down other members of the gang and recover more evidence.
