Sunday, November 16, 2025 - Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested 21 students of Ogioma Public Secondary School, Benin City, for suspected cult activities.
The spokesperson of the command, CSP Moses Yamu, who
disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, November 15, 2025 said that the
students were between 14 and 17 years old.
According to the PPRO, the arrest followed a foiled attack
on Osemwende Public Secondary School, located at Oghoghibi off Benin–Sapele
Road, Benin City, by the suspects.
“The Edo State Police Command has arrested 21 students of
Ogioma Public Secondary School, located at Limit Road off Benin-Sapele Road,
aged between 14 and 17 years, who are suspected to be cultists,” the statement
read.
“This followed a foiled attack on Osemwende Public Secondary
School, located at Oghoghibi off Benin–Sapele Road, Benin City.
“On 12th November 2025 at about 1:45 pm, operatives attached
to the Loveworld Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, acting on
credible intelligence, swiftly mobilised to Osemwende Public Secondary School,
where students suspected of engaging in cultism from Ogioma Public Secondary
School stormed the premises in a convoy of motorcycles, allegedly to carry out
violent acts.
“The prompt response of the police led to the arrest of 21
of the invading students, namely: Promise Afekokhian (16), Samuel John (16),
Godstime Sunday (15), Basit Kareem (14), Destiny Lucky (15), Miracle Peter
(16), Victor Innocent (14), Osazee Efe (16), Usman Adamu (17), and Orodge
Miracle (15)
“Others are Godspower Agharevba (16), Favour Ogunde (16),
Clinton Oghenetega (17), Wisdom Ehimen (17), Zenith Jonathan (17), Steven
Monday (14), Ogbebor Calistus (17), Marvelous Imadefe (15), Success Ogar (16),
Osaro Osama Praise (13), and Miracle Bassey (16), while others escaped.
“Four knives and a chain were recovered from the suspects. A
preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects had earlier circulated a
threatening voice note, boasting of plans to ‘stage a war,’ burn down the
school, and harm students and staff — a threat they attempted to carry out
before being contained by police intervention.
“Both school principals have been invited for further
questioning, and the arrested suspects have been arraigned in court for
prosecution. Eight of the 21 suspects were remanded, while 13 were released to
their parents/guardians, who will in turn produce them on 28th November 2025
for the next court sitting."
The Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, Monday
Agbonika, urged parents and guardians to pay closer attention to the activities
and groups their children associate with, both within and outside school
environments
He also called on school authorities to strengthen
discipline, report suspicious gatherings or threats promptly, and collaborate
closely with the police to prevent juvenile delinquency and violence in
schools.
The CP said the command remained committed to ensuring
the safety and protection of all residents, especially in schools across the
state, in line with the Nigeria Police Force Safe Schools Initiative.
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