The Akwa Ibom State police command says it has arrested three suspected members of the Vikings confraternity following a raid on a residential building off Abak Road, Uyo, identified as a hideout for cult-related activities and illicit drug trade.

The command’s spokesperson, Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement on Monday. 

She identified the suspects as Dick Udofia, Emem Charles, and Ubong Matthew.

“During the raid, officers recovered substances suspected to be ice (methamphetamine), cannabis commonly referred to as Indian hemp, and other items linked to drug consumption,” she said.

Ms John said preliminary investigations revealed that all three suspects admitted to being members of the Vikings confraternity.

According to her, investigators further established that one of the suspects, Mr Matthew, was allegedly forcibly initiated into the cult group on July 5, 2026, during a ceremony reportedly masterminded by Mr Udofia at the same location.

“The suspects, who are students of a certain polytechnic (name withheld), are currently assisting the Police with useful information,” Ms John said.

She added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects.

In a separate operation, operatives of the command arrested Joshua Akpan, a 32-year-old security guard employed by a private security company.

“The arrest followed actionable intelligence linking the suspect to a syndicate specialising in vandalising and stealing armoured electrical cables and other electrical installations from churches, residential buildings, factories, and government facilities,” she said.

The police spokesperson added that a search of the suspect’s residence, conducted pursuant to a duly executed search warrant, led to the recovery of cut-to-size armoured cables, bundles of vandalised electrical wires, pliers, an iron-cutting blade, a hammer, and other tools suspected of having been used in the crimes.

She said the suspect confessed during interrogation to vandalising and stealing electrical cables from a Catholic cathedral where he had been employed as a security guard.

“Investigations are ongoing to arrest other members of the criminal syndicate still at large and recover additional stolen property,” she said.