Police arrest 63 'black axe' cultist during initiation in Akwa Ibom

The Akwa Ibom Police Command on Sunday arrested 63 persons, suspected to be members of ‘Black Axe,’ a cult group. DSP Etim Dickson, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), announced this whilebriefing newsmen in Uyo. He said that the suspected cult members werearrested during their initiation at Effoi village forest, near Eket.The police image maker said that some of theitems recovered from the cultists include two locally-made pistols, five live cartridges, two axes and two drums. Other items are five black berets with ‘Aye’ insignia, three cars, one bus, two motorcycles, 10 cell phones; and a contain, containingsubstance suspected to be blood.He said that all the suspects confessed to being members of ‘Black Axe’ adding that they would be charged to court soon. “All the suspects will be charged to court. You know the activity of cult group is becoming too rampant,’’ Dickson said. He appealed to members of the public to volunteer information about criminal activitiesin their area to the police for prompt action.