The Edo State Police Command has arrested 95 individuals in connection with a resurgence of cult-related violence that has led to multiple deaths over the past two weeks.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Command’s spokesperson, Moses Yamu, revealed that 64 of the suspects have already been arraigned in court and remanded in custody, while investigations are ongoing for the remaining individuals.
Yamu explained that the arrests were made during targeted raids across Benin City and nearby areas, where officers also seized firearms and ammunition. The suspects are alleged members of rival cult groups including the Maphites, Eiye, and Aye confraternities, reportedly involved in deadly supremacy battles.
Recovered from the suspects were two locally made pistols, a single-barrel shotgun, and 24 live cartridges.
“These individuals, identified as members of the Maphites, Eiye, and Aye confraternities, are believed to be responsible for the recent spate of cult killings in the state,” Yamu said.
Meanwhile, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, appealed to parents and guardians to monitor their children’s activities closely to help combat the rising threat of cultism.
He also cautioned young people against joining illegal groups, warning that such affiliations not only jeopardize their future but could also result in loss of life—theirs or that of innocent people.
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