Police Arrest Seven in Church Disguise Criminal Raid

On April 8, 2026, the Akwa Ibom State Police Command conducted a raid on a criminal hideout disguised as a church located in Ndiya Mfia Village, Ikono Local Government Area. The operation, which began at 0600 hours, was driven by credible intelligence and resulted in the arrest of seven suspects, including a preacher named Brain Ebeka.

Other arrested individuals were Kenneth Ezekiel, Dickson Ndueso, Abang Rowland, Esther Elijah Okon, and Joi Elijah Okon. During the raid, police recovered two locally made double-barrel guns, five expended cartridges, four motorcycles, three large generators, and ten mobile phones.

The police command emphasized the seriousness of the operation, which is part of a broader effort to combat crime in the state, and warned that criminal activities disguised as religious practices would be met with the full force of the law. The Commissioner of Police, Baba Azar, directed a comprehensive investigation to apprehend any principal suspects still at large.