Odahiekwu Ogunde
Akwa Ibom State Police Command under the leadership of Imohimi Edgal says it is determined to decimate cultism and other crimes in the state.
To this end, the command said it had dismissed a policeman, Mr Mfon Esio, F/NO. 513379 PC, for allegedly being a confessed cult member.
The spokesman for the command, N-Nudam Fredrick, said in a statement on Thursday that on May 20, 2020 Esio was fingered in a Junior Vikings Confraternity initiation in which one Ubong William was allegedly abducted to a bush along Marina Road, Eket, where he was forcefully initiated into the confraternity.
He said the constable had been subjected to orderly room trial, where he was found guilty of the offence and had been dismissed immediately from the force.
The statement said Esio’s dismissal would serve as a deterrent to others of his like in the police.
Also, the command has nabbed some suspected cult members in different locations in the state.
They are Ubong Etim of Idu Uruan, Uruan Local Government Area, Paul Uruk of Anua Offot, Uyo LGA, Imoh I. Udoh of Mbierebe Obio village, Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, Ukpono Albert of No. 2 Ikot Ekpene Road, Uyo, Idorenyin Albert, Nseobong Etim Inyang, Christopher Asuquo of Idung Akpautung, Esit Eket LGA,
Wisdom Archibong, of Idung Akpautung, Esit Eket LGA, Ekemini Ekwere of Idung Akpautung, Esit Eket LGA, Aniedi Eshiet of Idua Road, Eket LGA, Emmanuel Jack of No. 23 Grace Bill Road, Eket LGA, Socrates Bassey of Odoro Enen village, Eket.
It said the following exhibits were recovered from them: 10 locally-made pistols, 400 live cartridges, 10 expended cartridges, 15 machetes, five axes, wraps of substance suspected to be cocaine and items suspected to be charms.
Edgal, therefore, warned that any person, no matter how highly placed, involved in cult activities or other crimes would be promptly arrested and prosecuted accordingly.