The Akwa Ibom State Police Command said it has arrested 14 suspected cultists in the Ukanafun Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects reportedly of the Debam confraternity were arrested over the possession of pistols.
Confirming the development to journalists in Uyo, the state capital, on Wednesday, the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko Macdon, said the suspects were arrested while unlawfully possessing pistols.
He said that the suspects confessed to owning the pistols and being members of the Debam confraternity. He noted that the Command had completed arrangements to prosecute the suspects in court.
According to him, the suspected cultists arrived from Rivers State on Saturday for the burial of one Imoh Thompson, otherwise known as Landlord from Ikot Effiong village in Ukanafun LGA.
Macdon noted that the suspected cultists had been transferred to the State Investigation Department (SID) in Uyo for further investigations.
An eyewitness said that the late Thompson, suspected to be the Debam leader in Ukanafun, was alleged to have been killed by members of a rival cult group, Iceland confraternity, in what residents said was a battle of supremacy.
According to him, the suspected cultists were ambushed and arrested by the police along Ekparakwa-Aba Federal Highway as they were about to enter Ikot Udo Ossiom-Ikot Effiong road in Ukanafun.
He also said that the suspects were armed with an English pistol and some locally-made rifles at the time of their arrest. (NAN)
