Saturday, July 13, 2024 -The Edo State Police Command has paraded three suspected cultists in Benin City alleged to be members of the Maphite confraternity.
According to a statement by a media aide to
the governor, Crusoe Osagie, on Friday, the police commissioner, Funsho
Adegboye, paraded the suspects, identified as Eyefia Godbless (30), Imuetiyan
Ewemade (30), and Emeka Okpaja (22).
The trio were reportedly apprehended at
Ubiaza Community, Off Sapele Road in Benin City, where they were allegedly
planning to avenge the killing of a fellow member.
“We have the full backing of the Inspector
General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun on the fight against cultism and we
are not joking with it,” Adegboye was quoted stating.
He added that Governor Godwin Obaseki and
his executive team are also supporting the initiative to rid the state of
cultism and criminality.
The police recovered several items from the
suspects, including an automatic pump action gun, 11 live carriages, three
green berets, and a Maphite constitution.
According to the Commissioner, the suspects
made confessional statements affirming their membership in the cult group.
Adegboye emphasized the dangerous nature of
the weapons seized, stating, “This is an automatic pump action gun which is as
deadly as AK 47 which has a bullet that can kill several people, unlike AK-47
which can kill just one person. According to the suspects, the gun was
purchased for about N700,000.”
The Commissioner used the opportunity to
appeal to the youth, urging them to gainfully engage themselves in profitable
and positive activities adding that crime, cultism, and internet fraud do not
pay.
In addition to the three cultists, the
police reported other recent arrests. These include five suspects apprehended
at a cultist hideout along Siluko road, where two pump action guns, two locally
made single barrel guns, and 20 live cartridges were recovered.
In a separate incident, one Osayande Tony
was arrested with a pump action gun and two cartridges while driving a Mercedes
Benz C300 Saloon car.
The police also have in custody one Apalobi
Daniel from Powerline, Ugbiyokho, Benin City, who allegedly strangled his wife
to death during an argument. The suspect is expected to be charged in court
soon.
“At same Siluko road, Rapid Response Squad
intercepted one Mercedes Benz C300 Saloon car with registration number YAB 389
BG, driven by Osayande Tony ‘M’ 48 years and was arrested with one pump action
gun and two cartridges,” Adegboye added.
Adegboye further reiterated the commitment
of the Edo State Government and the police, in collaboration with other
security agencies and the press, to continue sensitising the public about the
dangers of cult groups and criminal activities.
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