The Cross River State Police Command has arrested 11 men over suspected cult initiation activities in a bush near the Engineering Department of the University of Calabar (UNICAL).
The suspects were arrested on Thursday, October 22, following a distress call from the university, according to a statement issued on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata.
Akata said operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Satellite Town, Calabar, arrived at about 10:30 a.m. and worked with the university’s internal security team to cordon off the area.
The suspects were identified as Ogar Favour, 25; David Akpa, 27; Gift Emmanuel, 24; Aaron Favour, 24; David Abubu, 25; Victor Emmanuel Eyibo, 26; Oghenemaro Hendrix, 24; James Ede Joseph, 22; Charles Ekeng, 21; Edu Nkanu, 26; and Ogabor John Odey, 24.
Police said they recovered a Lexus 350 saloon car, reportedly abandoned by a fleeing individual, and three motorcycles during the operation.
The command said the recovered items had been secured for investigation, noting that their possible connection to the suspected cult activity had not been established.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the alleged initiation and the individual roles of the suspects.
