The Nation Newspaper

Tag: cult

  • Anambra Poll: Seven suspected cult election riggers arrested

    Anambra Poll: Seven suspected cult election riggers arrested

    Seven persons have been arrested by the combined teams of Police and State Security outfit, Agunechemba in preparation for the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State

    According to the Police Command, the suspects are alleged cultists being prepared by some political parties to cause trouble and rig the election 

    They were apprehended  on Sunday morning at Obinagu, Abagana, Njikoka local government area during their initiation in one of their hideouts 

    A statement by Police spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga, an Superintendent of Police,  in Awka informed some of the items recovered from the suspects were one 25-litre keg containing red liquid substance, Red ritual cloth, 2 (two) wooden drums, Footwear belonging to the suspects.

    “Preliminary information revealed that the initiation activities were part of their evil ceremony and grooming for election thuggery in Njikoka and Anaocha Local Government areas. 

    “The suspects on sighting the operatives, attempted to flee, but were successfully apprehended after a swift chase.

     “Meanwhile, an Investigation is ongoing to identify and arrest fleeing members of the syndicate and to uncover other linked cult cells within the axis.

    Ikenga, further said that the commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, has maintained that the Command will not tolerate activities that threaten peace, especially in the build-up to the Governorship Election. 

    He urged parents, community leaders and youth groups to intensify moral guidance and discourage involvement in cultism and political violence.

  • Two die, two abducted, two rescued in Anambra cult shooting 

    Two die, two abducted, two rescued in Anambra cult shooting 

    Two persons died while two others were reportedly abducted in alleged cult related shooting in Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra state.

    Two victims, including a lady receiving treatment in a hospital, were said to have been rescued during the incidents which occured at the Total Junction and Tipper junction in the area.

    An eyewitness account revealed that the armed criminals operating with a motorcycle and a black Lexus 350 SUV without plate number, started shooting indiscriminately at the Total junction.

    “Four persons were allegedly wounded  including a lady that is currently receiving treatment at the hospital. 

    “The two others were allegedly abducted at the Tipper junction before they fled the scene,” the source said.

    Confirming the incident, Police Spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga said calmness has been restored to the area as police operatives have taken over the scene of the incident.

    Read Also: Politicians blamed for cult clashes, killings in Ondo as police declare war on drug peddlers

    He said they were acting on necessary information from eyewitnesses for possible arrest of the suspects.

    According to him: “Police Operatives led by the Area Commander Aguata, complemented by Joint Security Force comprising the Army, Navy, Civil Defence and Vigilante Operatives have taken over the scene of an alleged cult related shooting by 8.40pm on 19th June, 2025 at the Total Junction and Tipper junction all in Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area. 

    “Two victims including a lady who is currently receiving treatment in a hospital were rescued. Sadly, the incident recorded the death of two persons and the alleged abduction of two others.

    “Meanwhile, the Command has sued for calm as the Operatives are already acting on some clues from the scene and leveraging on necessary information from some eyewitnesses for the possible arrest of the hoodlums.”

  • Five killed in Ondo cult clash

    Five killed in Ondo cult clash

    Five persons have been killed in renewed cult clash in Ondo City, Ondo West local government area.

    One person was killed around FFF junction, Oka area and three others were shot dead near Ife Garage area.

    It could not be confirmed which of the cult groups were involved in the clash but sources said the killings bore signs of Aye and eiye cult groups.

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    Ondo Police spokesman, Ayanlade Olayinka Olushola, who confirmed the killings said some persons have been arrested in connection to the killings.

    Ayanlade said security has been beefed up around Ondo town to prevent further killings.

  • Cult war leaves five dead in Aba

    Cult war leaves five dead in Aba

    Five persons in their early or late 20s have been killed in cult clashes in Aba North and South local governments of Abia State.

    The affected areas include Nkoro, Cemetery Road, Nwankpa, Ehime, Osusu, Ama Ognonna, and Erondu.

    While two persons were killed last week, the other group killed three members of rival group around Nkoro in retaliation.

    A resident of Nkoro said one of the deceased, persons(a twin) had alighted from a commercial tricycle in the company of his girlfriend and another male friend, who is also a member of his cult group, when some people who had been monitoring them, accosted them and started beating him. The girlfriend and the other friend on realising the danger, took to their heels.

    Read Also: Ramadan: FUMCI holds medical screening in Lagos

    It was gathered that the group shot their rival cult member in the head, leaving him in the pool of his blood and, subsequently, hopped into a waiting commercial tricycle, and zoomed off.

    Few minutes later, the same group trailed other members of the rival cult group to Nkoro where they shot him.

    Another member of the opposing cult group was killed near his house while the twin brother of the deceased narrowly escaped death. Shop owners in the affected areas closed their closed shops to avoid being caught in the web of the shooting.

    The bodies have been evacuated by the Police Rapid Response Squad.

    A source at the Aba Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) confirmed the clash.

  • JUST IN: Four killed, others injured in Ondo cult clash

    JUST IN: Four killed, others injured in Ondo cult clash

    Four people have been confirmed dead following a resurgence of cult violence in Owo, Ondo State. 

    Among the deceased is Fisayo Oladipo, a prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and former chairmanship aspirant for Owo Local Government.

    The 52-year-old Oladipo, who was also a former youth leader for the APC in the area, was gunned down by suspected cultists at his residence early Monday morning. 

    Read Also: BREAKING: Suspected cultists kill APC leader in Ondo

    In a related incident, three others, including a mother and her child, were killed in reprisal attacks, with reports indicating that the two victims were struck by stray bullets.

    Sources suggest that Oladipo’s killing may be linked to a long-standing dispute that dates back over a decade.

    The body of Oladipo has been transferred to the morgue at the Federal Medical Centre in Owo.

    Police spokesperson, SP Funmilayo Odunlami-Omilani, confirmed the incident and assured that efforts are underway to apprehend the perpetrators.

  • Suspected cult members set ablaze in Jos

    Suspected cult members set ablaze in Jos

    The Plateau State Police Command has reported a case of jungle justice or in a mob action that took place in Jenta Adamu, Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State, leaving no fewer than two people dead.

    The report, which was said to have been received through a distress call from a concerned resident of Jenta Adamu, stated that at about 09:20 am, a group of yet to be identified cult members invaded their community and were trying to rob law abiding citizens of their belongings.

    In response to the call, the Plateau State Commissioner of Police immediately ordered the Divisional Police Officer, “A” Division Jos, to deploy police officers and detectives to the scene and begin investigation into the matter.

    It was said that upon arrival, the team discovered that an angry mob had taken matters into their own hands and pursued the invaders, mobbed them and set them ablaze.

    He said in a statement that the police in collaboration with the leadership of Jos North Local Government Area had evacuated the burnt bodies from the scene and deposited them at the hospital morgue.

    “During investigation into the incident, two locally fabricated pistols, believed to belong to the unidentified cult members, were recovered from the scene.”

    Read Also: Epic derbies in Owerri, Jos as NPFL hits Matchday 13

    While condemning the activities of armed robbers and cultists within the state, the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, CP Emmanuel Adesina, condemned the execution of jungle justice.

    The CP also cautioned that in any civilized society, whenever suspects are arrested by

    peace loving citizens, they are handed over to the relevant security agencies to ensure that justice is served in accordance with the provisions of the law.

    CP Adesina warned that any person or group of persons caught executing jungle justice would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

    He urged members of the public to remain calm as the command had put in place effective measures to ensure the safety and security of all residents.

  • Two undergraduates killed in Edo cult clash

    Two undergraduates killed in Edo cult clash

    Two students of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, have been killed in an alleged cult reprisal.

    One of the victims was an official of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), a 400-level student of Agriculture. He was allegedly shot at the Poultry Road Extension in Ekpoma.

    The incidents happened barely 48 hours after one Eddy was beaten and left for dead by a group of persons, for allegedly purchasing some items with fake bank alert.

    Information on Eddy’s ordeal was misconstrued for an attack by rival cult members, to the effect that he was later killed.

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    The misrepresentation of facts led to the reprisal by a rival cult group, resulting in the murder of two undergraduates.

    Police spokesperson Chidi Nwabuzor confirmed the incident and said some suspects had been arrested while investigation was ongoing.

  • One killed, two arrested in cult clash in A’Ibom

    One killed, two arrested in cult clash in A’Ibom

    The police in Akwa Ibom have confirmed killing of one person and arrest of two in a suspected  clash between Black Axe confraternity and Klansmen confraternity

    The cult clash occurred in Eket Local Government Area of the state.

    Akwa Ibom State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP MacDon Odiko, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Eket, on Tuesday.

    Read Also: NSCDC gets new Commandant in A’Ibom

    “We have received a report of the cult incident from Eket, we confirm  death of one person and two arrests,” he said.

    Odiko said that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Waheed Ayilara, had ordered a thorough investigation into the matter.

    “Let those who are perpetrating this act get it very clear.

    “The CP has directed that those involved, as well as their sponsors, be fished out.

    “Cultism cannot be allowed to thrive in the state. The CP is not happy about it,” the spokesperson said. (NAN)

  • Policeman, journalist die in Edo cult clash

    Policeman, journalist die in Edo cult clash

    • NUJ seeks justice

    A policeman attached to the Edo State Police command has died in a cult battle.

    Commissioner of Police Mohammed Dankwara, who confirmed this yesterday, said some suspected cultists were also arrested in Benin metropolis.

    He condemned attacks by cultists on innocent residents, particularly a reporter with Independent Television and Radio (ITV/Radio), Hillary Odia.

    He said: “The command is sincerely fighting cultism, and wishes to end it for Edo State to be peaceful for all. Its efforts are visible in the loss of one of its personnel during an operation in the Ugbowo axis of Benin, on December 24. 

    Read Also; Florence Ita-Giwa retires?

    “Nevertheless, some of the cultists have been arrested and will soon be prosecuted.”

    Dankwara also pleaded with residents to remain calm and be peaceful. He assured them that the command is committed to ensuring the safety of their lives and property.

    He also urged them to come up with information that can help in the fight against crime.

    The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has urged the police to unravel the circumstances surrounding the murder of Odia.

    The union prayed for the repose of the soul of its fallen soldier and urged his family to take solace in the fact that Odia would be remembered on the positive side of history.

  • Police arrest 11 suspected cultists

    The police in Lagos have nabbed 11 suspected members of a cult group, New Black Movement of Africa.

    Arrested were Godwin Victor; Benjamin Daniel; Saviour Anioffion; Lawal Ibrahim; Shola Odekunle; Sodiq Olawuyi; Segun Fagbohun; Bashiru Lawal; Chinedu Francis; Wahab Adams and Ifarinde Adeniyi were arrested at the wee hours of Friday at Jakande Estate, Ajah, where they were allegedly terrorising residents.

    It was gathered that the suspects had gone to the area in search of a young man who fled their initiation ground.

    The unnamed young man, it was gathered, could not withstand the torture and other initiation procedures of the group, which made him flee.

    Afraid that he would give them away, the suspects were said to have gone to their victim’s neighbourhood, beating and robbing people.

    According to spokesman for the command, Chike Oti, the escapee’s mother sneaked out of the house and alerted the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Ilasan, Onyinye Onwuamaegbu, a Chief Superintendent (CSP).

    Oti said: “The DPO led a contingent of policemen to the estate and arrested eleven members of the group. The police team recovered a locally made shotgun, four live cartridges, three cutlasses, one sledge hammer, ten horse whips and assorted charms.

    “In a related development, two notorious cultists, Rasheed Yusuf aka Radical and Abel Okwo were arrested during a supremacy battle between the Aiye and Eiye confraternities at Akerele Street, Oworonshoki.

    “The said Abel Okwo was charged to court two months ago by the command for cult related offences only to come back to terrorise the town again.

    “The Commissioner of Police,  Lagos State Imohimi Edgal has vowed the Command will not relent in its efforts at ridding the state of members of these unlawful societies.

    “He urged parents to hold heart to heart talks with their children, male and female alike, on the consequences of belonging to cult groups.”