The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has apprehended a suspected ritualist, Cletus Bassey, accused of producing ‘bulletproof’ charms for armed robbers in Uruan Local Government Area
The arrest, which led to the recovery of a locally made firearm and ritualistic materials.
According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Timfon John, operatives acted on credible intelligence from residents about Bassey’s illicit activities. The 32-year-old suspect, a native of Ndon Ebom village, was allegedly operating a shrine where he prepared charms believed to offer supernatural protection against bullets and law enforcement detection. The charms were reportedly sold to suspected armed robbers operating in Uruan and neighboring areas.
“Following a tip-off, our operatives raided the suspect’s hideout and recovered a locally fabricated pistol, alongside items such as animal horns, cowries, and concoctions used in his rituals,” ASP John disclosed. “Preliminary investigations reveal that Bassey has been supplying these charms to criminals for months, contributing to the rising cases of armed robbery in the region.”
The police operation, conducted by a team from the Uruan Division, followed weeks of surveillance after reports of increased criminal activities linked to the suspect’s charms. During interrogation, Bassey allegedly confessed to producing the charms but claimed they were for “protection purposes” and not specifically for criminal activities. The police, however, dismissed his defense, citing evidence of his dealings with known criminal elements.
Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph Eribo, commended the operatives for their swift action and urged residents to continue providing actionable intelligence to curb crime in the state. “We remain committed to ridding Akwa Ibom of criminal elements and their enablers,” he said. “This arrest sends a strong message to those aiding and abetting crime.”
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