The Ugep community in Cross River State, will on Saturday, April 4th, 2026, hold a civic reception in honour of a son of the community, Ofem Ikpi Arikpo, who was recently elevated to the rank of a Commissioner of Police.
A source in the palace of the Obol Lopon of Ugep, HRM Obol Ofem Ubana Eteng, who is also the paramount ruler of Yakurr LGA, Cross River State, informed www.calitown.com that, the community “has put together this civic reception because of the unique significance that Arikpo is the first indigenous Commissioner of Police from Ugep community. We have a culture of recognising and celebrating sons and daughters of Ugep, who make giant strides and undoubtedly, his methodical rise to the rank of a CP, is not a feat this community can gloss over. We must celebrate him, celebrate the excellence this promotion acknowledges, to challenge several of our sons and daughters to tow the path of honour and excellence in what they have chosen to do.”
The ceremony will commence at 10:00am, at the Umor Otutu Palace, where Arikpo will be conferred with a chieftaincy title by the Ugep monarch. Guests and friends will thereafter retire to the Yakurr Local Government Guest House, for what promises to be a colourful entertainment.
Born in January 1968, Arikpo, attended several primary schools in Calabar, CRS, before proceeding to the prestigious Hope Waddel Training Institution in 1979 for his secondary school. He gained admission to the University of Uyo where he obtained a B.Sc in Political Science/Public Admin and an M.Sc in International Relations. In 1994, he was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Academy, Kano as a Cadet ASP and passed out from the Academy in 1996.
Arikpo has also been one of the few Officers in NPF history to have commanded four Mobike Police Squadrons as Commanding Officer. The Squadrons are, 36PMF Kebbi, 56PMF Ogoni, 27PMF Katsina and 73PMF Magumeri, Borno State. He served as the Deputy Commissioner of Police incharge of Administration and Finance in Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa State Commands – from where he was promoted to the rank of Commissioner of Police.
He told www.calitown.com exclusively, when contacted that, “to God belongs all the glory because He alone has made all of these things possible.”