The Edo State Police Command have arrested 124 suspected cultists allegedly involved in cult related activities in the state.
The State Police Commissioner, Muhammed Dankwara, who disclosed this on Thursday in Benin while briefing journalists said the arrest was informed by the command’s efforts at putting an end to secret cult activities and killings in Edo
Dankwara also disclosed that seven persons were killed in the renewed cult fight in Benin City, the Edo State Capital.
He said: “Recall there was up-surge in secret cult activities and killings in the state where some faceless cultists had clandestine meetings in hotels, apartments, lounges, houses, drinking joints in different locations in the city and discussed on how to attack and kill their perceived rival secret cult members
The command has arrested 124 suspects in our fight against cult fighting and killings.97 of this suspects were charged to court and 13 suspects were released after profiling”
He added ’14 other suspects are still under investigation to unravel some of things we have notice and discovered during profiling”.
Additionally, the Commissioner of Police said the suspects were arrested by the command’s anti-cultism, anti-Kidnapping and cyber Crime unit, in collaboration with the Edo State Security Network.
He warned all the state actors, non-state actors and sponsors of the various secret cult confraternities who he alleged give monies, hotels, apartments, lounges, houses, drinking joints or any other dwelling place as support for clandestine meetings to withdraw their patronages.
According to him, “any one found guilty would be arrested and prosecuted in court while such properties would be sealed through the instrumentality of the law”.
