Thirty Five Suspects Arrested As Police Foil Cult Initiation In Ekpoma

Thirty five suspected cult members have been arrested in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State. 

The Anti-Cultism Unit of the Edo State Police Command foiled a cult initiation which led to their arrest.

The spokesperson of the command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, said the arrest followed an intelligence report that some students suspected to be members of the Vikings cult group converged in an undisclosed location for the initiation ceremony.

The PPRO said an anti-cult team carried out the operations on April 27 and 28, 2024.

"In continuation of the Edo State Police Commands' onslaught against cult activities in Edo State, the operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit of the Command on Saturday 27th April 2024 stormed the city of Ekpoma after an intelligence report that some students suspected to be members of Vikings secret cult confraternity who converged in an undisclosed place in Ekpoma to carry out initiation process of some new members where in the process 35 cultists were arrested," the state.

"The operations were carried out simultaneously between the 27th and 28th day of April 2024.

"The Commissioner of Police Edo State, CP Funsho Adegboye, mni reiterates the command's commitments to ensure the safety of lives and property of the citizenry.

"He assures the good people of Edo State and the general public to always assist the Police with actionable information that will lead to achievements. The CP emphatically said information is key to good development and a crime-free society, as modern and civilized policing entails citizenship and community participation.

“He again advise parents and guidance to warn their children and wards to desist from these deadly cult groups that it has no gain, the end is disaster.”