The Edo State Police Command has apprehended 28 suspected cultists during an extensive house-to-house raid operation in Benin City as part of intensified efforts to combat cultism in the state.
Moses Yamu, the Public Relations Officer of the Command, revealed in a statement on Friday that following professional screening of the suspects, 19 were implicated and subsequently charged to court.
Strategic Anti-Cultism Operation
The raid, which took place on June 4, 2025, between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m., forms part of the Command's sustained campaign against criminal activities through visibility policing and community engagement strategies.
"In continuation of its fight against cultism, the Command has commenced house-to-house arrests of identified cult members in the state to ensure that cultism is either eliminated or reduced to its barest minimum," Yamu stated.
According to the police spokesperson, three suspects arrested from various locations confessed to being members of the Eiye and Aye confraternities. These suspects have already been arraigned in court.
Warning to Cult Members
The Command has issued a stern warning to all cult members to either renounce cultism and reform, relocate from the state, or face the full wrath of the law as stipulated in the Edo State Secret Cult and Other Related Activities (Prohibition) Law.
This operation represents a significant step in the ongoing efforts by security agencies to address the menace of cultism, which has been a persistent security challenge in various parts of Nigeria, particularly among youth populations.
The police action comes amid growing concerns about cult-related violence and criminal activities in urban centers across the country.
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