The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has uncovered a shocking criminal hideout disguised as a church, arresting seven suspects and recovering firearms and other incriminating items in a daring early morning raid.
Acting on credible intelligence, operatives stormed the compound at about 6:00 a.m. on April 8, 2026, following reports that suspected criminals were using the location as a cover for illegal operations.
Among those arrested was a self-acclaimed preacher, Preacher Brain Ebeka, alongside six others, as the operation exposed what authorities described as a dangerous abuse of a religious front for criminal activities.
A thorough search of the premises led to the recovery of two locally made double-barrel guns, expended cartridges, motorcycles, generators, mobile phones, a police crest, jungle boots, machetes, and a special forces vest, among other exhibits believed to be linked to ongoing investigations.
Police authorities said preliminary findings indicate the site was being used to plan and execute criminal acts, raising fresh concerns over the infiltration of criminal elements under religious disguises.
Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, has ordered a full-scale investigation and intensified efforts to track down a key suspect still on the run.
Issuing a stern warning, the Command declared that there would be no hiding place for criminals in the state, stressing that any attempt to cloak illegal activities under religion or any guise would attract the full weight of the law.
Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and continue to support law enforcement with credible information as the crackdown on crime intensifies across Akwa Ibom.
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