Cross River State Police Command has arrested 11 men over alleged 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 by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, on Friday.
The statement said operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU, Satellite Town, Calabar, responded to the report at about 10:30 am and joined the university’s internal security personnel to cordon off the area.
Those arrested 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.
The police said a Lexus 350 saloon car, reportedly abandoned by a fleeing individual, and three motorcycles were recovered during the operation.
The command said the recovered items had been secured for investigation, adding that their connection, if any, to the suspected cult-related activity had yet to be established.
The police said investigations were ongoing to determine the individual roles of the suspects and the circumstances surrounding the alleged initiation.