Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested 14 suspects for alleged involvement in cultism, kidnappings, attempted murder, armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition in the state.
The Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, made this disclosure while parading the suspects at the command’s headquarters in Benin City on Tuesday.
Nwabuzor stated that the suspects were apprehended by the operatives as part of the ongoing efforts against criminal elements.
He gave a breakdown of the arrested suspects, which included six cultists, seven kidnappers and one murderer.
Items recovered from the suspects included one locally made cut-to-size gun, seven live cartridges and one gas cylinder.
While presenting the suspects to newsmen, the command’s spokesperson said that four persons, namely Frank Chijoke, 25, Asemota Kennedy, 34, Ubang Etim, 33, and Danesi Yakubu, 40, were arrested for alleged cultism.
He said they were arrested at His Excellency Hotel along Second East Circular Road by Cemetery by the Esigie division.
He added that another suspect, Odion Atiku, was arrested by personnel of the Esigie Division for an alleged plan to kill Essey Imafidon Iyama, a member of the Edo State Security Network.
Nwabuzor revealed that the suspects, who claimed to be members of the Eiye secret cult confraternity, have been transferred to the anti-kidnapping and cybercrime unit.
He added that they would soon be charged to court for prosecution.
