The Akwa Ibom Police Command has arrested a man, Alexander Peter, for allegedly macheting his 71-year-old mother, Atiny Peter, to death in Ikot Inyang village in Oruk Anam Local Government Area.

During a press briefing on Friday at the command headquarters in Ikot Akpan Abia, the state commissioner of police, Baba Azare, said Mr Peter was arrested at about 9:55 a.m. on June 10.

Mr Azare said, “On the 10th of June, 2025, at about 0955hrs, based on credible information, the operatives of the command arrested one Alexander Ben Peter (m) of Ikot Inyang village, Oruk Anam Local Government Area for murdering his biological mother, one Mrs Atiny Ben Peter (f) aged 71 years.”

He said the police had recovered the matchet the suspect used to commit the murder, and the investigation was ongoing to ascertain his motives.

The CP stated that a suspected cultist was also arrested and confessed to being among the killers of three hunters in the Unyenge community in the Mbo Local Government Area in 2024.

He said, “Operatives of the command also arrested one Uwem Edet Eyo aka ‘Masterly’ (m) of Unyenge village in Mbo Local Government Area, who took part in the kidnap/killing of three marine hunters at Unyenge community in Mbo Local Government Area sometime in August 2024 and went into hiding.

“The suspect confessed membership of the Black Axe secret cult and the kidnapping/killing of the three hunters, who were beheaded and buried in a shallow grave.”

According to the police commissioner, both suspects are among 54 suspects apprehended between May and June 2025 for murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, vandalism, and theft.

He also stated that over 50 arms and rounds of ammunition, sewing machines, generators and other items were recovered from the suspects during the period.