BY JUDE OSSAI / ENUGU
Police detectives in Enugu on Thursday arraigned 26 youths suspected to be members of secret cults in the State.
This follows reported cases of secret cult-induced attacks and acts of murders in some parts of the state.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Ahmed Ammani, has ordered for a clamp down on the perpetrators with a view to bringing them to book.
In a statement by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe on Thursday, stated that Ammani has directed his “Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and heads of Tactical Teams of the State Command, to use all the operational and intelligence resources at their disposal to further clamp down on the criminal elements and bring them to justice”.
According to him, “This is considering the arrest of twenty-six (26) male suspects between the ages of 18 and 40 years, at different locations in the State, by Police Operatives of the Command’s Anti-cultism Squad.
“The suspects, all linked to the crime, confessed to being members of Supreme Vikings and Black Axe Confraternities that are respectively involved in the cult war.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that some members of Black Axe confraternity, on 29/03/2023 at about 2230hrs, conspired, shot and injured a member of Supreme Vikings confraternity in the arm, at Emene, Enugu.
“On receipt of the information, members of Supreme Vikings confraternity, in solidarity with their murdered member, conspired and declared war against members of Black Axe confraternity, which has led to counter and counter murderous armed attacks between the secret cult groups in different parts of Enugu metropolis, Agbani and Nsukka areas of the State.
“The investigations further reveal that the attacks have led to the murder of a yet-to-be ascertained number of individuals on different dates and times in the mentioned locations.
“The suspects were today, 20/04/2023, arraigned in court and remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Custodial Centre; while frantic operational and investigative efforts are on course to apprehend and bring other perpetrators of the act to book.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner has urged parents, guardians, community and religious leaders in the State to caution and dissuade their children, wards, or subjects from partaking in secret cultism and its related criminal activities, as the Police will not relent, in line with extant laws, to deal decisively with anyone apprehended.
“He further enjoins the citizenry to continue to support the Police, by promptly reporting criminal suspects and their activities, including those of secret-cult groups, to the nearest Police Station or by calling the Command’s Emergency Hotlines on 08032003702, 08075380883, 08086671202 or 08098880172.
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