Police operatives in Akwa Ibom State have uncovered a suspected criminal hideout disguised as a church, arresting seven persons and recovering firearms, ritual substances and other incriminating items from the facility.
The early morning raid, carried out at approximately 6:00 a.m. on April 8, 2026, targeted a compound in Ndiya Mfia village, Ikono Local Government Area, following what the police described as credible intelligence on criminal activities sheltered behind a religious front.
The facility bore the name “All Power Belong to Me, Solomon of our Generation.”
Seven suspects were arrested, including the alleged leader, a self-styled preacher identified as Brian Ebeka, and six others — Kenneth Ezekiel, Dickson Ndueso, Abang Rowland, Esther Elijah Okon, Joy Elijah Okon and one other.
A search of the premises yielded a disturbing array of items: two locally fabricated double-barrel guns, five spent cartridges, four motorcycles, three large generators, ten mobile phones, five machetes and multiple vehicle number plates.
Also recovered were a police crest, a special forces vest, four jungle boots, a peak cap, a saw blade, a spanner, bottles containing suspected spiritual substances and a large photograph believed to be connected to ongoing investigations.
Announcing the operation, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, said preliminary findings confirmed that the facility was being exploited to perpetrate criminal activities under the cover of religious worship, a development he described as a disturbing abuse of faith-based platforms.
“The operation was carried out based on credible intelligence pointing to the presence of criminal elements in a compound disguised as a church,” John said in a statement issued in Uyo on Wednesday, adding that investigations were ongoing.
The Command warned that it would not tolerate attempts to conceal unlawful activities behind religious or any other fronts, and assured residents that offenders would face the full weight of the law.
