By Emmanuel Uzodinma The Police in Enugu State have arrested 26 members of different cult groups. They were arraigned before a...
By Emmanuel Uzodinma
The Police in Enugu State have arrested 26 members of
different cult groups.
They were arraigned before a magistrate court sitting in
Enugu on Thursday and remanded in the Correctional Service.
DAILY POST reports that the arrest came amid the ongoing
rival cult war in the State which has claimed about 30 lives in Nsukka, Agbani
and Enugu metropolis.
This was confirmed through a statement made available to
journalists by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe.
He said they were arrested by Police Operatives of the
Command’s Anti-cultism Squad and subsequently arraigned before the court.
The suspects are between the ages of 18 and 40 years.
Ndukwe said the suspects, all male, confessed to being
members of Supreme Vikings and Black Axe Confraternities- the two groups
involved in the cult war.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that some members of
Black Axe confraternity, on 29th March, 2023 at about 10pm, conspired, shot and
injured a member of Supreme Vikings confraternity in the arm, at Emene, Enugu.
“On receipt of the information, members of Supreme Vikings
confraternity, in solidarity with their murdered member, conspired and declared
war against members of Black Axe confraternity, which has led to murderous
armed attacks between the secret cult groups in different parts of Enugu
metropolis, Agbani and Nsukka areas of the State.
“The investigations further reveal that the attacks have led
to the murder of a yet-to-be ascertained number of individuals on different
dates and times in the mentioned locations.
“The suspects were arraigned in court and remanded in the
Nigerian Correctional Custodial Centre; while frantic operational and
investigative efforts are on course to apprehend and bring other perpetrators
of the act to book.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner has urged parents, guardians,
community and religious leaders in the State to caution and dissuade their
children, wards, or subjects from partaking in secret cultism and its related
criminal activities, as the Police will not relent, in line with extant laws,
to deal decisively with anyone apprehended.
“He further enjoins the citizenry to continue to support the
Police, by promptly reporting criminal suspects and their activities, including
those of secret-cult groups, to the nearest Police Station,” Ndukwe said.
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