In a chilling operation that has sent shockwaves through Akwa Ibom State, the Police Command has arrested five suspects connected to a gruesome home invasion, armed robbery, and r3pe incident that occurred at a guest house in Abak. The arrest followed the discovery of what authorities describe as a suspected shrine housing disturbing fetish materials.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, the breakthrough came after a formal complaint was lodged on June 26, 2025. The report detailed a harrowing incident in which a man was violently robbed and his female companion r3ped by a gang of armed intruders.
Under strict orders from the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, a covert investigation was launched, leading operatives to a hidden den believed to be the gang’s operational base. On the night of July 30, at exactly 11:10 PM, detectives stormed the location and arrested five individuals identified as Richard Edet Udo, Hope Unibong Anitie, Joseph Ibongidi, Christian Joseph Johnny, and Joseph Joseph.
What investigators found at the hideout has since sparked nationwide outrage. The operation uncovered a suspected shrine containing two coffins filled with used women’s sanitary pads, along with photographs of unidentified individuals and various fetish objects believed to be used for ritualistic or spiritual purposes.
“Acting on a firm directive from the Commissioner of Police, operatives recovered disturbing items from what appeared to be a shrine. The items included two coffins filled with sanitary pads, pictures of people, and other fetish materials,” the statement read.
DSP John confirmed that the operation is far from over, as efforts are ongoing to track down other members of the criminal syndicate still at large.
She further emphasized that the Akwa Ibom State Police Command remains unwavering in its commitment to rooting out crime and ensuring that justice is served, no matter how dark or disturbing the trail may be.
As investigations deepen, the shocking discovery raises serious concerns about the intersection of crime and ritual practices in the region leaving residents shaken and authorities determined to expose the full extent of the syndicate’s operations.