By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar
The Cross River State Police Command has arrested 10 suspected members of the Axe Men Confraternity and recovered a locally made pistol and other weapons during an operation in Abini Community, Biase Local Government Area.
The suspects were arrested at about 5:15am on Saturday, following intelligence gathering and surveillance launched after the Abini community petitioned the Commissioner of Police over alleged cult activities on July 29, 2026.
The Police said operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Sector 2, acting on the intelligence, moved into the community and apprehended the suspects identified as Jester Enyi, 25; Godwill Mansala, 22; Prosper Okey, 23; Emmanuel Uno, 26; Onyebuchi Eyong, 22; Elisha Emmanuel, 27; Christian Esu, 25; Daniel Uno, 23; Nelson Ibete, 23; and Roland Uno, 18.
Recovered from the suspects, according to the command, were one locally made pistol, a battle axe, a dagger, a beret bearing a secret cult logo, a pair of police camouflage trousers and a mobile cardigan.
The Police said preliminary interrogation indicated that the suspects allegedly admitted belonging to the Axe Men Confraternity, while efforts were being intensified to apprehend other persons linked to the case.
The arrests came on the same day the Commissioner of Police, Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, commissioned a newly constructed police outpost donated to the command by a retired police officer and indigene of Adim Community, AIG (rtd) Dr Okon O. Effiong.
The commissioner described the facility as an example of community ownership and partnership with the Police, saying it would strengthen security operations and improve the protection of lives and property in Adim and neighbouring communities.
Ordue commended the community for supporting policing efforts and urged residents to continue providing credible information. He assured that the arrested suspects would be subjected to due process and diligent investigation, with anyone found culpable made to face the law.
