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Tag: Cult members

  • Police bust cult members from Edo, Lagos, Osun in Ondo

    Police bust cult members from Edo, Lagos, Osun in Ondo

    …arrest 25 suspects during initiation

    …recovers SUV highlander, motorcycle from cult leaders 

    Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have foiled an alleged cult initiation ceremony at Uso community in Owo Local Government Area of the state, arresting 25 suspected members of a proscribed cult group.

    The suspects were alleged to be members of the outlawed Black Axe confraternity, also known as the Neo Black Movement (NBM), while their arrest followed credible intelligence received by the police from concerned citizens.

    According to the police, the suspects reportedly travelled from Lagos, Osun, and Edo states to Ondo State to participate in the initiation of new members into the cult group before they were caught and apprehended. 

    Their arrest was confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, and made available to journalists in Akure, the state capital.

    “Acting swiftly on the information, operatives of the Command were mobilised and deployed using intelligence-led tactics to disrupt the planned initiation. 

    “The operation resulted in the arrest of twenty-five (25) suspects, drawn from Ondo State, Osun State, Lagos State, and Edo State, at the scene of the initiation,” Abayomi said. 

    He disclosed that one Toyota Highlander SUV and one unregistered Daylong motorcycle were recovered during the operation, adding that the suspects are currently in police custody.

    Abayomi further revealed that the suspects have allegedly confessed to their involvement in cult-related activities and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

    Commending the operatives, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, CP Adebowale Lawal, lauded his men for their swift response, professionalism and dedication, stressing that the command would not relent in its fight against cultism across the state.

    Lawal also expressed appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for his strategic leadership and continued support, which he said had strengthened the command’s anti-cultism operations.

    The Ondo police boss, however, advised youths to shun cultism and other criminal activities, warning that such acts only lead to grave consequences. 

    He reassured residents of the command’s commitment to maintaining peace and security in the state and urged the public to continue providing credible information to aid crime prevention.

  • Three cult members nabbed over alleged murder

    Three persons suspected to be members of a cult group were on Friday arrested by the police for allegedly killing a 26-year old man, Dominic Njem, in Ihialla, Anambra State.

    The suspects, said to be members of a cult group, reportedly inflicted several machete cuts on the deceased body until he became unconscious.

    The Nation gathered that the deceased was rushed to a nearby hospital in the area where he was certified dead by the medical doctor on duty.

    The State Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed confirmed the arrest, saying the corpse had been deposited at the hospital morgue for autopsy.

    He said the suspects were arrested by the Police detectives attached to Ihiala division following intelligence report.

    He gave their names as Chidubem Ejezie, a.k.a Santana, Arinze Azubuike Adigwe and Chijioke Onu.

    Mohammed said, “Victim was rushed to our lady of Lourdes hospital Ihiala by Police Patrol team who visited the scene but he was certified dead by the medical doctor while receiving treatment.

    “Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects belonged to a cult group known as Aiye Confraternity.”

    He said the suspects would be charged to court for prosecution after conclusion of investigation.

  • Suspected cultists burn police division in Bayelsa

    Suspected cult members desperate to free a detained member of their gang on Tuesday set ablaze the Oporoma Police Division in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

    Our reporter gathered that the cult member who was on Police wanted list for various crimes including kidnapping, sea robbery, armed robbery and acts of pipeline vandalism was being temporarily detained at the Oproma Division when his gang members struck to free him.

    Community sources in Southern Ijaw said that the timely reinforcement by security agencies deployed to protect oil facilities in the area saved the situation.

    The Spokesman of the Police Command in Bayelsa, DSP Asinim Butswat, who confirmed the incident, said that a policeman on guard duty shot at the detained suspect to prevent his escape from lawful custody.

    “The suspect was arrested and detained at the Oporoma Police Division, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, preparatory to being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Intelligence Department (SCIID), Yenagoa.

    “The suspect on March 21, 2018 attempted to escape from lawful custody and was shot by the police officer on duty.

    “Other members of the suspected cult group mobilised and attacked officers on duty at the police division and set it ablaze.

    “Additional policemen were deployed to restore normalcy in the community.

    “There seems to be emergence of cases of cult activities in Bayelsa; we call on members of the public to volunteer useful information and  to assist the police to tame the trend of cult activities amongst the youths in Bayelsa,” Butswat said.

    Reports have it that on Nov. 7, 2017 some 10 suspected armed robbers and cult members that were detained by the Special Anti Robbery Squad cell (SARS) in Yenagoa broke free from detention and escaped.

    NAN.

    Read Also: Police arrest most wanted ‘criminal’

     

  • Herbalist, five cult members arraigned for ‘killing’ pastor

    Six men, including an herbalist, who were alleged to be cult members, were yesterday charged with smashing the heads of a pastor and other family members with a grinding stone at an Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court.

    Chibuzor Igwe, 19, Omotayo Onamoyegun, 25, Samuel Ameze, 38, Gift Ameze, 35, Uche Igwe, 23, and the herbalist, Fatai Adebayo a.k.a Aleshe, 34 are facing a seven-count charge of conspiracy, murder and stealing.

    Chibuzo and his brother, Igwe, however, pleaded guilty to the charge of murder brought against them, while other accused entered a ‘not guilty’ plea.

    Magistrate Bola Folarin-Williams remanded them at Ikoyi Prisons pending legal advice from the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    She adjourned the case till March 8.

    Mr Emmanuel Eze, a lawyer from the State Criminal and Investigative Intelligence Department, Panti, had asked the court to remand all the accused in prison and asked that the case file be duplicated and sent to the DPP.

    He said the accused committed the offences last November 26 at Ofin area and also at 12, Alajo Close, Abule Oshorun, Ibeshe in Ikorodu.

    He alleged the accused had broken into the apartment of the deceased, Pastor Victor and used a stone to smash his head while he was asleep.

    He told the court that the accused gained entry through the window and made away with his phone valued at N13,000.

    The accused also entered the premises of the Yekinis and used a grinding stone to smash the heads of Sakiru, Kehinde and Salad Yekini causing them grievous harm.

    Eze said the accused also went away with a DVD player and a T-shirt, all valued at N8, 000 belonging to the family members.

  • Rivers declare two cult members enemies of state

    Rivers declare two cult members enemies of state

    In furtherance of its fight against cultism in Rivers State, the government has declared two suspected cult members, ThankGod Wandikom and one Friday, as enemies of the state.

    The government said the two had refused to submit to the amnesty programme of the state.

    The Special Assistant to Governor Nyesom Wike on Amnesty Programme, Mr. Kenneth Chinda, stated this at Isiokpo community in Ikwerre Local Government Area, while granting freedom to the leader of the Icelander cult group, Justice Amadi, popularly called Italina.

    Speaking, Chinda stated that the two Deygbam leaders in Omerelu community of the local government Wandikom and Friday, had refused to embrace the amnesty programmme of the state government.

    Chinda said that the two refused to come out on different occasions they were invited by the committee, stressing that other members of the cult in the area had repented.

    He gave the two leaders of the cult group in the area, 48 hours ultimatum to surrender their arms or risk being declared wanted by the government.

    He stressed that the government was poised on returning sanity to the state, noting that any cult member who fails to denounce the practice would be dealt with by the security agencies.

     “The state government is today declaring two leaders of Deygbam cult group in Omerelu community, ThankGod Wandikom and Friday as enemies of the state. They refused to surrender to the amnesty programme.

    “They said they will not bring out their guns. So on that note, we declare them enemies of Rivers State. When they come and submit their arms we will grant them amnesty. I f they refuse, we are giving them 48 hours, then we will declare them wanted,” Chinda said.

  • Suspected cult members shootpoly student dead

    A polytechnic student in Abeokuta, Ogun State has been shot dead by members of a rival cult group in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    Sources said the incident occurred penultimate Tuesday minutes after the student, identified simply as Seun, wrote his final year examination.

    The late Seun was said to have been felled by bullets during a shootout between two rival cult gangs in Onikolobo area of the Ogun State capital.

    He was alleged to have led the members of a cult known as Buccaneers in the violent confrontation.

    The late Seun, popularly called Nigga, was said to have led his group on a reprisal against members of another unidentified cult group when he met his untimely death.

    A source who spoke in confidence said: “Seun and his men wanted to avenge the death of another member of their group who was recently killed by a rival cult group.

    “They stormed the Onikolobo area on a revenge mission and engaged their rivals in a shootout during which Seun was killed.”

    He was said to be a final year Marketing student of the polytechnic.

    A source who did not want her name in print gave a graphic account of how Seun was killed, saying: “His colleagues abandoned him when members of the rival cult started raining bullets on him.

    “Apparently, he had fortified himself with charms because bullets could not penetrate his body until his attackers resorted to stoning him before they eventually shot him dead.

    “He was said to have foretold his death shortly before he left with his lieutenants, saying that he might not return alive from the ungodly mission.

    “The shootout lasted one hour as everyone in the neighbourhood scampered into safety.”

    The spokesman of the Ogun Police Command, Mr Muyiwa Adejobi, did  not respond to our correspondent’s enquiries press time.

  • Suspected cult members ‘kill’ 40-year-old man

    Suspected cult members have killed a 40-year-old man in Ondo town.

    The incident, which has thrown the town into mourning, occurred barely 24 hours after the new Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 11, Mrs. Kalafithe Adeyemi, visited Ondo.

    Sources said the incident happened during the Ogun festival, which was celebrated by traditionalists in the town and attended by people from across the state.

    It was learnt that suspected members of the Eiye Confraternity trailed the deceased from Okegbala to Fiwasaye Street, where he was killed with a machete.

    The incident, which was reported at the Enuwa Police Station, it was gathered, caused confusion, as youths protested.

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. Kunle

    Omisakin, who confirmed the incident, said one person, Seto Akinbobola, had been arrested.

    He said the suspect was assisting the police in their investigations.

    Omisakin added that Akinbobola had been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Akure.

    Police spokesman Wole Ogodo said the matter would be investigated and the culprit would be punished.

  • ‘Cult members’, gunrunner held

    ‘Cult members’, gunrunner held

    Fifteen persons, including nine minors aged between 13 and 17, have been arrested by the Edo State Police Command for allegedly belonging to cults.

    They were arrested at Unewa in Esan North East Local Government Area and Ologbo in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area.

    Police spokesman Noble Uwoh said eight of them arrested at Unewa were members of the “Hallah of the Night”; others arrested at Ologbo belonged to the Eiye Confraternity.

    He said two axes were recovered from them.

    Uwoh said the suspects would be charged to court today.

    Also, a suspected gunrunner, Ebhodaghe Tedah, has been paraded.

    Police said four double barrel guns were recovered from him.

    Uwoh said the suspect was discovered to be allegedly leasing guns to robbers, kidnappers and thugs.

    Ebhodaghe claimed he used the guns to hunt wild animals.

  • Police arrest 27 ‘cult members’

    The police in Delta State have arrested 27 suspected cult members, who were allegedly terrorising Ughelli and Ozoro axis.

    Police spokesman Celestina Kalu said the suspects reportedly confessed to being members of the Eiye and Junior Vikings confraternities.

    Kalu said 11 of the suspects had been arraigned in court, adding that others would soon be charged.

    He said: “In a bid to stem the tide of violent crimes being perpetrated by suspected cultists in Ughelli and Ozoro axis of Delta State, on March 16 between 2100hrs-0200hrs, SARS operatives raided Ughelli and Ozoro areas and arrested Okogba Hezekiah and twenty-six (26) others.

    “Investigation has revealed that 13 of the suspects are members of Eiye confraternity; the remaining 14 belong to Junior Vikings confraternity. The suspects have confessed to the crime.

    “The command wishes to reiterate its warning to cultists to shun cultism and other vices,” the statement said.

     

  • Cult members, police in bloody shoot-out

    Suspected cult members yesterday engaged security agents in a gun duel at Okwe Primary School near Asaba, the Delta State capital.

    Some of them escaped with injuries, according to police sources.

    Three suspects-Nwoke Afamefule, Frank Ehielu and Iyorobe Mike-were arrested.

    Police spokesman Famous Ajieh confirmed that an initiation ceremony was going on at Okwe Primary School, when the police struck.

    It was further gathered that the cult members were determined to carry out the initiation and opened fire on the policemen who retaliated.

    Ajieh said: “The miscreants were about initiating more persons when we stormed their hide-out.

    “They opened fire on us but we responded swiftly which made them to abandon the ceremony and fled.

    “Even if they were many, most of them were not armed and as such, when we responded, they took to their heels.

    “Some of them must have escaped with gunshot injuries but three of them were arrested.”

    Items recovered include black, red and white clothes with the inscription N.B.M axe; two bottles of Schnapps and a calabash.

    The search for the abducted 110-year-old grandmother in Idjerhe Kingdom, Ethiope West Local Government has intensified.

    Concerned community members yesterday were said to be combing the area in search of clues.

    The centenarian mother was snatched while sleeping in her home last Sunday.

    The hoodlums were said to have sandwiched the victim on a waiting motorcycle and headed towards River Ethiope where they abandoned the motorcycle.

    They reportedly escaped by boat.

    The victim’s daughter told reporters that the kidnappers have contacted the family.

    But she did not say the amount of ransom they were demanding.