The Cross River State Police Command has arrested 11 male suspects over alleged cult initiation activities near the Engineering Department of the University of Calabar (UNICAL).
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
According to the statement, operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Satellite Town, Calabar, on October 22, 2026, at about 10:30 a.m., responded to a distress call from the university regarding suspected cult initiation activities in a nearby bush. The police joined the university’s internal security personnel to cordon off the area.
The suspects were identified as Ogar Favour, 25; David Akpa, 27; Gift Emmanuel, 24; Aaron Favour, 24; David Abubu, 25; Victor Emmanuel Eyibo, 26; Oghenemaro Hendrix, 24; James Ede Joseph, 22; Charles Ekeng, 21; Edu Nkanu, 26; and Ogabor John Odey, 24.
Items recovered during the operation included a Lexus 350 saloon car reportedly abandoned by a fleeing individual and three motorcycles. The police said no connection between the recovered vehicles and the suspected cult-related activity had been established at this stage.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, reiterated the command’s resolve to prevent cultism and other violent crimes through proactive policing, credible intelligence and effective collaboration with relevant stakeholders. He noted that investigation into the incident was ongoing and that all suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
However, one of the suspects, Comr. Ogar Favour Johobe (Noble), President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), has denied any involvement in cultism.
In a public statement, Johobe said his visit to UNICAL on Thursday was strictly for consultation with a friend who intends to contest for a position in NACRISS Worldwide following the dissolution of the previous administration. He maintained that the visit had no connection with cultism, unlawful assembly or any activity capable of threatening the peace and security of the university community.
Johobe stated that at approximately 11:00 a.m., shortly after his arrival, he parked his vehicle and sat on a nearby cement seat when security operatives called them over, asked them to identify themselves and their institutions, and subsequently took them to the station.
He expressed concern that the police publication was released at a time he had not been questioned, asked to make a statement or informed of any findings establishing his alleged involvement in cultism.
“Let me state categorically that I am not a cultist. I was not apprehended inside any bush, nor was I aware of or involved in any gathering intended to disrupt the peace, security, or peaceful coexistence of the university community,” he said.
Johobe called on the Cross River State Police Command to urgently review and clarify the publication, and to formally correct any inaccurate or misleading information concerning his person and his institution. He reserved his right to pursue all lawful avenues to protect his reputation.
Investigation into the matter continues.
