The Edo State Police Command has arrested 25 suspected cultists over recent cult-related killings in Benin, the state capital.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Samuel Adegbuyi, who disclosed this at the state police headquarters, said the suspects were arrested by officers of the command at different locations within the state capital.
Adegbuyi said six single barrel guns were recovered from the suspects, stressing that those linked to the killings would be charged to court.
At least, 20 persons have been reportedly killed in circumstances linked to cult activities; the deaths of two students of the College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi and two women last week, were the most recent.
The police chief stated that nine deaths had been recorded by the command from separate cult incidents, which he said might be fallout of the 2015 general elections.
“Following the recent cult activities in Benin City and its resultant killings, the command has arrested 25 suspected cultists belonging to different cult groups for offences ranging from cultism, murder, robbery, etc, and they are presently undergoing investigation to ascertain their degree of involvement and at the end of investigation, those found directly connected shall be charged to court.
“Six cut-to-size single barrel guns were recovered from them and several materials believed to be their cult emblems and paraphernalia,” he said.
The police commissioner also disclosed that six other persons were arrested for cult-related offences in Ekpoma, Ubiaja, Uromi and Benin.
He said a “life eagle” was recovered from one of the suspects, who was arrested on May 4 in Benin, “while trying to initiate a woman into a lady secret cult,” after obtaining the sum of N45,000 from her.
Adegbuyi said, “Upon search of his house, one life eagle, one army cap, one hammer and one knife and some other items, suspected to be emblems of the cult group were recovered.”
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