Police recover stolen Hilux, arrest suspected cultist in Akwa Ibom

Akwa Ibom State Police Command says its operatives have recovered one Toyota Hilux with black bonnet, registration number NYA 399 AA, earlier reported stolen on 6 August 2026 along Udo Eduok Street, off Aka Road

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Timfon John who disclosed this in a statement in Uyo on Monday said the suspects on sighting the Police fled and were pursued to a non-motorable road, where they abandoned the vehicle and escaped into the bush.

She said the owner, one Mr Reginald, was contacted and subsequently identified the recovered vehicle as his property adding that efforts are being made to apprehend the fleeing suspects.

In a separate operation, the police said at about 2330hrs the same day, operatives of the Command while conducting stop-and-search along Abak Road by the Federal Secretariat, Uyo, arrested one Emmanuel Emmanson, 21, of Mkpat Enin LGA, and recovered three live cartridges from him.

She said, “Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly confessed to being a member of the Black Axe Confraternity and stated that the cartridges were intended for a cult initiation exercise in a bush.”

She noted that the suspect is in custody as investigation continues, while efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the suspected unlawful group.