Officials of the Edo State Police command have arrested 11 people including four state government officials suspected to be leaders of different cult groups in the state.
The arrests were made barely 24 hours after the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, deployed a special squad to the state to tackle the increased cases of cultism, kidnapping, robbery and other related crimes.
The police team led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad, (FEDSARS), Chris Ezike, stormed the hideout of the cultists few hours after arriving Benin City.
After hours of raiding the city, police successfully arrested leaders of various confraternities for alleged complicity and murder of 10 Nigerians in the last one month in the state.
The arrested cult leaders were taken in on suspicion of conspiratorial involvement in the alleged murder of a 55-year-old man, Ojo Ayeadu, at old Benin-Auchi Road. It was learnt that nine other persons were also killed at different locations in Benin metropolis and its environs.
One of the state government officials, who spoke with vanguard on condition of anonymity, said: “Those arrested, from what we gathered, are junior workers of the War Against Indiscipline. The state governor does not condone cultism, which explains why when one of his bodyguards was accused of being involved in cultism, he ordered his arrest, which was done immediately.”
The state police command spokesman, Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, who spoke on the phone said: “Yes, a good number of arrests has been made, irrespective of their status. The figures are still coming in. The thrust of the IG is yielding positive results.”
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The state's officials arrested comprised Engr. David Olukoga, 46, who is the Chairman, Edo State Committee on War Against Indiscipline and Senior Special Assistant on Youth Enhancement to the state governor, Osunde Aigbedo, 48, Executive Director, Special Duties, Government House, Dr. Salako Adebowale, 43, staff of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin city, Ernest Amadasun, 49, the Managing Director, Pohien Investments and National Coordinator, Human Assistant Initiative and Adebo Ejuaoje, 46, of the Ministry of Education, Science and Tech Vocational, Iyaro, Benin City.
Sources close to the state police command confirmed that the other suspects arrested includes; Isabor Larry, 34, staff of Edo State House of Assembly; Totti Omonuwa, 42, of No. 97, Igun Street, Benin-City, Ahunwan-ID Orlando, 39, of No. 2, Ighodalo Street, Benin-City; Josuah Ehiabhi, 36, of No. 11, Upper Mission Road, off Ewa Raod, Benin-City, Felix Evbodi, 46, of No. 12, Aibelegbe Street, Benin-City and Uche Chukwuka, 36, the Private Secretary to the Chairman, Committee on Environment, Ministry of Environment, Edo State.
The suspected cultists are alleged to be members of the Eiye, Black Axe, Buccaneers, Aiye and Jurist confraternities. The suspects have denied being members of the cultist groups.
It was gathered that the suspects were highly influential in the cult war that has currently engulfed the state.
Following this successful raid, IGP Arase, has dispatched anti-robbery patrols to identified black spots along Isua – Ibillo Road, Ibillo –Lakpese – Okene roads.
Edo State has been marred with cult activities in recent times. The major opponents have been the Eiye, Black Axe, and Maphite groups.
At the end of April, 2015, the three major cult groups were involved in a bloody clash that claimed the lives of no fewer than 12 people in different locations in Benin City, the state capital.
Source: Legit.ng
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