The Anambra State Police command has arrested a total of thirty-five (35) suspected cultists belonging to different groups from various black spots within the state particularly Awka, Obosi, Enugu-Ukwu and Okija.
The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, Mr. Garba Umar who disclosed this at a press briefing in Awka recalled that that in the past few days, activities of secret cults in the State had taken an alarming dimension following a fierce battle of supremacy between rival cult groups leading to loss of lives and wanton destruction of properties.
Umar noted that these dastardly acts perpetrated by misguided youths usually under the influence of hard drugs use offensive weapons such as guns, machetes, knives, etc. to intimidate, assault, maim and even kill their perceived rivals including innocent citizens in the State.
He added that the miscreants also engage in other forms of criminal activities such as armed robbery, extortion and house breaking among others thereby causing serious security threat in the State.
“Worried by these emergent trends of criminality and other nefarious activities, the command under my watch has reviewed its crime prevention strategies and embarked on intensive patrol, aggressive raid of black spots/ flash points and other criminal hideouts in order to nip in the bud all forms of crime and criminality in the State. These strategies started yielding positive results as during the week under review, the command has arrested thirty five (35) suspected cult members belonging to different sect groups from various black spots within the State particularly Awka, Obosi, Enugu-Ukwu and Okija”, he said.
The Police boss gave the names of the suspects as Chukwudi Machie ‘m’ aged 34yrs, Chukwudi Igwebueze ‘m’ aged 32yrs , Onyeka Igbanugo ‘m’ aged 28yrs, Ifeanyi Anazoba ‘m’ aged 32yrs and Chukwuemeka Nwokoye ‘m’ Aged 32yrs.
He informed that the suspects confessed to be members of Black Axe and Vickings Fraternity and have direct link with the ongoing cult activities in Awka and the alleged murder of one Chukwudozie Patrick Nwosu ‘m’ aged 30yrs, Sunday Nwaboko ‘m’, Victor Omemma ‘m’, Ifeanyi Ndubuisi and Nnamdi Anih ‘m’ at various areas within the metropolis.
According to him,” However, other arrested suspects who are not directly involved in the alleged murder but belonged to various cult groups are as follows;
Names Cult Group
Arinze Chimiezue ‘m’ Junior Vickings JVC
Obunabo Uba ‘m’ Black Dagger
Elenem Victor ‘m’ Black Dagger
Chinwuba Ugochukwu ‘m’ Black Dagger
Okwuchukwu Okafor ‘m’ Senior Vikings (SVC)
Egwele Chibuokem ‘m’ Junior Vickings (JVC)
Okafor Chiemerie ‘m’ Junior Vickings (JVC)
Uche Mmuoneke ‘m’ Junior Vickings (JVC)
Akametaru Chibuike ‘m’ Junior Vickings (JVC)
Okeke Chidubem ‘m’ Junior Vickings (JVC)
Ibeh Chimezie ‘m’ Junior Vickings (JVC)
Ezeokoli Izuchukwu ‘m’ Black Axe
Aka Izuchukwu ‘m’ Junior Vickings (JVC)
Obighara Nzube ‘m’ Junior Vickings (JVC)
Ikueze Chibuzor ‘m’ Junior Vickings (JVC)
Ezeokoli Chukwuebuka ‘m’ Buccaneer
Nwabueze Chibuike ‘m’ Junior Vickings (JVC)
Ezeh Chukwuemeka ‘m’ Black Axe
Okwuchukwu Odilik ‘m’ Buccaneer
Obi Chukwunonye ‘m’ Junior Vickings (JVC)
Udemmadu Obichukwu ‘m’ Junior Vickings (JVC)
Amobichukwu Izuogu ‘m’ Costral Marine Patrol
Ekene Uga ‘m’ Junior Vickings (JVC)
Okpara Nonso ‘m’ Junior Vickings (JVC)
Chimezie Ifeduba ‘m’ 2-2
Arinze Chiemelie ‘m’ 2-2
Okwuchukwu Okafor ‘m’ SVC
Chukwuma Aguneyie ‘m’ Junior Vicking (JVC)
“In a related development, the command has equally arrested eleven suspected armed robbers as follows; One Agafuna Chukwu ‘m’ , William Egbom ‘m’, Ogunna Adinniegwe ‘m’ Awkuzu, Chukwuma Ude ‘m’, Chinecherem Nwafor ‘m’, David Akpan ‘m’, Arinze Anara ‘m’ , Abuchi Onyebueke ‘m’, Ntomchukwu Obodo’m’, Ibuka Obodo and Ifeanyi Ibekwe ‘m’”.
He further listed exhibits recovered from them to include; 1 AK 47 rifle with breach No 9071CS1799, 1 English Bareta Pistol, 2 locally made double barrel Pistol, 1 Single Barrel short gun, 15 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition, 3 cartridges and a red Toyota Matrix Car with Reg. No EKY 879 EN snatched from one Evbadolovi Omorogbe at Benin City, Edo State.
While stating that investigation was in progress after which suspects would be charged to court for prosecution, CP Umar however assured that the command was determined to ensure that criminals have no hiding place in the State.
“It must be emphasized here that safety and security is not only the sole responsibility of security agencies alone, hence parents, community leaders, religious leaders and the general public must play a vital role towards ensuring peace by availing the Police and other law enforcement agencies with useful information that will be instrumental to the unbundling of criminal acts and tendencies”, he appealed.
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