Police recover human skulls, armsJuly 12, 2012 by Mudiaga Affe, Calabar

The Cross River State Police Command has recovered human skulls, charms, assorted rifles and ammunition used by cult members and armed robbers in terrorising the state in the last few months.

Displaying the items at the command’s headquarters in Calabar on Tuesday, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Osita Ezechukwu, said the last few weeks had been challenging as cult members tried to create panic in Calabar, the state capital.

The items comprise two human skulls, charms, two bottles of concoction, four AK47 rifles, 12 locally-made pistols, four single-barrelled rifles, machetes, four stolen vehicles and 13 telephone handsets.

Ezechukwu said around 11.30pm on July 2, the police at Odukpani Division carried out a raid on a black spot at Netim village where cult members suspected to have escaped from Calabar South were hiding in an uncompleted building.

Although he was not specific on the number of arrests, it was gathered that over 30 cult members were arrested and charged to court for various offences.

The police chief also said five armed robbery suspects believed to members of an eight-man gang were earlier arrested in Boki Local Government Area of the state on May 20 after an operation.

He said, “An eight-man gang of armed robbers left Gbedue in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State for Isor Bendeghe in Boki LGA of Cross River State where they robbed people of cash and valuable items.

“The robbers hid their weapons in a big loud speaker while in transit. Five of them were arrested and various arms and ammunition, including a cash of N46, 340 were recovered from them.”

Describing his achievements in his 100 days in office as a welcome development, Ezechukwu emphasised the need for cooperation between the police and members of the public in order to reduce crime rate.

He said the task of ensuring adequate security was not a one-man show, adding that the current trend of policing had become community based.

-Punch