Crime

Police Arrest 7 Suspected Cultists in Edo State, Recover Weapons

The Edo State Police Command has successfully apprehended seven suspected cultists who were caught in the act of dehumanising a commercial motorcycle (Okada) rider at Peanut Junction along Benin-Sapele Road.

According to Moses Yamu, the Public Relations Officer of the Command, the arrests were carried out by operatives from the Love World Division on Sunday, June 8, 2025.

Suspects and Recovered Items

The suspects have been identified as Erick Charles, Gift Nerese, Odion Osaro, Festus Osaghai, Owas Ighodaro, Samuel Sabi, and Destiny Bernard. Yamu revealed that two additional suspects managed to escape during the operation.

During interrogation, two of the apprehended individuals reportedly confessed to being members of the Maphite Confraternity, a known cult group operating in the region.

The police spokesperson listed several items recovered during the operation, including one pestle, one machete, one live cartridge, and a tricycle with registration number AUC 184 VH.

Ongoing Anti-Cultism Operations

Yamu stated that the suspects would be charged in court after the completion of investigations. He further disclosed that the Command is currently conducting house-to-house arrests of identified cultists across the state.

"The exercise will be sustained until cultism is brought to the barest minimum in the state," Yamu assured, highlighting the Command's commitment to tackling the menace of cultism in Edo State.

This arrest comes amid growing concerns about cult-related activities in various parts of Nigeria, with security agencies intensifying efforts to curb the trend.

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