The police command in Akwa Ibom says it has arrested two suspected cultists during a raid in an hotel at Ikot-Udota in Eket local government area of the state.

DSP Timfon John, the command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Uyo on Saturday.

Ms John said that operatives of the command successfully arrested two suspected cultists and recovered a firearm, ammunition and other items during the raid.

According to her, the raid took place in an hotel in Ikot-Udota in Eket on Thursday July 31, at 2:30 p.m.

She said the command acted on credible intelligence which indicated that some expelled students and drop-outs from a certain institution (name withheld) had formed criminal gangs.

Ms John alleged that the students were engaging in a range of illicit activities including extortion, rape, and cybercrime.

The police spokesperson said that during the arrest, officers recovered the following items; one English Beretta pistol with three rounds of 9mm live ammunition.

Other items recovered include; one laptop, two android phones, an MTN internet router, a cocktail of suspected drug concoctions and three copies of power-of-attorney suspected to be stolen.

She said that preliminary investigations indicated that the gang were led by two individuals who are currently at large.

The PPRO said that efforts were ongoing to arrest others that are at large.

“This successful operation is a testament to the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of the community,” she said.

 (NAN)