Poised to checkmate the menace of cult-related killings ravaging parts of Benin City and its environs lately, operatives of Edo State Police Command have apprehended no fewer than 34 persons alleged to be members of cult groups terrorizing the state.
Exhibits said to have been recovered from them included two Beretta pistols with a live ammunition, 10 cut-to-size guns with six live ammunition, four toy guns, three battle axes and 60 live cartridges.
The Commissioner of Police CP Lawan Tanko Jimeta, recently deployed to Edo State paraded them along with others suspects during his maiden press briefing in Benin City on Friday, December 13, 2019.
He disclosed further that the suspects were apprehended during coordinated raids on different criminal hideouts across Edo State.
CP Lawan Jimeta stated that the arrested 34 suspected cultists “who are members of Aye, Eiye and Vikings confraternities… confessed to being members of the criminal societies and were involved in perpetrating all sorts of atrocities and criminalities in the state.
“They are; (1) Ozaka Henry, (2) Nosakhare Ekhator, (3) Emmanuel Destiny, (4) Odugun Kingsley, (5) Fortunate Elohor, (6) Omosogie Efosa, (7) Prosper Odugun, (8) Moses Enabuele, (9) Lookman Imade, (10) Mohid Idachala, (11) Joseph Osula, (12) Amos Agbonuyosa, (13) Innocent Omorogbe, (14) Olumide Amos, (15) Uche Ekeru, (16) Odaro Uyiosa, (17) Francis Akpotehre, (18) Oscar Obinna, (19) Jolly Orobosa, (20) Steven Jerry, (21) Monday Osato, (22) Mathew Macaulay, (23) Emmanuel Osato, (24) Osamudiamen Okpefa, (25) Eric Michael, (26) Dominic Moses, (27) Ejiro Chukudi, (28) Oduwa Eghosa, (29) Hope David Osasere, (30) Eji Duru, (31) Lucas Evbota, (32) Olaluyi Sunday, (33) Goodluck Osunmwenyi, and (34) Bobby Felix Oghosa”.
The police boss explained that since their arrest, the spate of cult-related killings in the state had reduced in the past one week.
He assured that efforts were on to arrest those behind a recent viral video on social media in which some cultists displayed sophisticated loaded guns and dangerous weapons as they threatened to unleash mayhem on their rival groups in the state.
Moses Enabuele, 23 and Innocent Omorogbe, 32, father of five who claimed to be a manager of a guest house admitted membership of Neo Black Movement a.k.a Black Axe, and Eiye confraternity, respectively.
The duo said they were arrested in their base at Abudu town, the administrative headquarters of Orhionwmon local government area of Edo State.
