To stem the tide of cultism and other nefarious activities in Anambra State during the Christmas period, the state police command’s Special Anti Cult Unit, in conjunction with Puff-Adder/Kpochakpu operatives had on Saturday, December 14, 2019, arrested 82 suspected cultists in various parts of the state.
Haruna Mohammad, the Police public relations officer, PPRO, in the state, said in Awka that the arrests were made during raids at various hideouts and black spots where suspected cultists were hibernating.
Details showed that at Onitsha/ Ogidi /Nkpor axis, 22 suspected cultists were arrested, while at Awka /Amansea axis, 10 were also arrested.
At Oba/Nnewi axis, 22 were arrested, while 10 were arrested at Nsugbe/Nkwelle-ezunaka axis and 18 at Ogbunike/Abagana axis.
According to him, out of the number of arrests, 15 had been charged to court, while 42 suspects were undergoing investigation.
He said that exhibits recovered from the suspects, who confessed being members of secret cult groups, include seven machetes, three axes, one dagger, one Vikings barret, five improvised bunkers for inhaling substances and some quantity of weeds suspected to be cocaine and Cannabis sativa.
He also said the command’s Special Anti-cult unit had arrested three suspected criminals operating in military uniform.
Their names were given as Joseph Onyedika, 23, of Okposi in Ohaozara LGA of Eboyi State, Emmanuel Christopher, 27, of Oraifite in Ekwusigo LGA of Anambra State and ThankGod Sike, 25, of Obioma Ngwa in Abia State, but residing at Nnewi In Anambra State.
Haruna said the suspects claimed that they were serving military personnel, adding that a Jack knife was found in their possession at the time of their arrest.
He added that two of the suspects were fake soldiers, while the remaining one was undergoing further investigation at the military cantonment to ascertain his true identity.
