By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
The Police in Alwa Ibom has launched a full-scale investigation into the suspected murder of a 45-year-old man, Mr. Udeme Sunday Uko, killed in a church.
It has also arrested five suspected cultists and armed robbers believed to be responsible for a recent home invasion, armed robbery, and rape incident.
Ukoh was found in pool of blood while sleeping with his family inside a church in Ukanafun Local Council of the state.
This was contained in a Police statement endorsed by the State Police PPRO Timfon John made available to newsmen on Wednesday while the incident which occurred on Tuesday has continued to generate anxiety and
fear among Christians in the area.
The victim, his wife, and children were sleeping at a Church in Ikot Oku Usung village when a gun shot was heard in the church and later Uko was discovered to have been shot on his head suggesting either a suicide or an attack from enemies.
The Command was alerted to the incident by concerned citizens who received the report from the victim’s wife while a team of police officers immediately dispatched to the scene of the crime recovered a locally made pistol.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, fsi has directed a thorough and swift investigation to be conducted in order to apprehend those responsible for this heinous act while assuring the public that all necessary resources would be deployed to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.
The five suspected cultists and rapists were apprehended following a discreet investigation launched after a formal complaint was lodged with the Police.
“On June 26, 2025, a man (name withheld) reported that a group of armed individuals broke into his room at a Guest House (name withheld) in Abak, robbing him of his belongings and raping his female guest.” It said.
Acting on a firm directive detectives raided the criminals’ hideout, arrested five of them and recovered disturbing items from what appeared to be a shrine, including two coffins filled with women’s sanitary pads, pictures of people, and other fetish items.
