The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of the Vikings Confraternity during an intelligence-led operation targeting cult-related activities in Uyo, the state capital.
The suspects, identified as Dick Udofia, Emem Charles and Ubong Matthew, were apprehended during a raid on a residential building located off Abak Road, which police said had been under surveillance following intelligence reports linking it to cultism and illicit drug activities.
According to the police, officers recovered substances suspected to be methamphetamine, popularly known as “Ice,” cannabis, commonly referred to as Indian hemp, as well as other items believed to be associated with drug consumption.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Timfon John, said preliminary investigations revealed that all three suspects admitted to being members of the Vikings Confraternity.
She disclosed that investigators also uncovered evidence suggesting that one of the suspects, Ubong Matthew, was allegedly forcefully initiated into the cult group on July 5, 2026, during a ceremony reportedly organised by Dick Udofia at the same location where the arrests were made.
The police further revealed that the suspects are students of a polytechnic in the state, although the institution’s identity has not been disclosed. They are currently assisting investigators with information expected to aid the arrest of other suspected members of the cult group who fled before the operation.
The command described the arrests as another significant success in its ongoing campaign against cultism, drug abuse and other criminal activities across the state, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring the safety of residents and protecting public property.
In a separate operation, police also arrested a 32-year-old private security guard, Joshua Akpan, over his alleged involvement in vandalising and stealing armoured electrical cables and other electrical installations from churches, residential buildings, factories and government facilities.
A search conducted at the suspect’s residence led to the recovery of several cut-to-size armoured cables, bundles of vandalised electrical wires, pliers, an iron-cutting blade, a hammer and other tools believed to have been been used in carrying out the thefts.
During interrogation, Akpan allegedly confessed to vandalising and stealing electrical cables from a Catholic cathedral where he had been employed as a security guard.
Police said investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the suspected criminal syndicate, while efforts are also being intensified to recover additional stolen property.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing credible information to security agencies, assuring the public that it will sustain its crackdown on cultism, drug-related offences, vandalism and other criminal activities across the state.
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