Operatives of the Cross River State Police Command, in a joint operation with the internal security unit of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), have arrested 11 male suspects over alleged cult initiation activities taking place in a bush near the institution’s Department of Engineering.
The raid was conducted on Thursday, October 22, 2026, following a distress call received around 10:30 a.m. by the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Satellite Town, Calabar.
According to a statement issued on Friday by Police Public Relations Officer ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, security teams cordoned off the forest area to disrupt the ongoing initiation exercise.
The police identified the 11 arrested individuals 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).
During the crackdown, police operatives recovered:
One Lexus 350 Saloon Car: Reportedly abandoned by an unidentified individual who fled into the bush as security personnel closed in.
Three Motorcycles: Confiscated at the scene for investigative verification.
The Command noted that while all recovered items have been secured as exhibits, investigators have not established a direct link between the vehicles and the suspected cult activity at this stage.
Cross River State Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, reaffirmed the Command's commitment to curbing cult-related violence through proactive, intelligence-driven operations and partnerships with educational institutions.
The Command stated that investigations remain ongoing to establish the specific roles of each suspect, emphasizing that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of competent jurisdiction. Members of the public were further urged to report suspicious movements within university host communities to assist crime prevention efforts.