Police arrest 105 over cultism in Benue

The Police in Benue State have arrested 105 suspected cultists in three major towns of the state. The Commissioner of Police, Ene Okon, who made the disclosure, yesterday, while addressing newsmen at his office in Makurdi, noted that the feat was achieved within the past three weeks. “Following the recent killing of three young men […]

The Police in Benue State have arrested 105 suspected cultists in three major towns of the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Ene Okon, who made the disclosure, yesterday, while addressing newsmen at his office in Makurdi, noted that the feat was achieved within the past three weeks.

“Following the recent killing of three young men in Makurdi metropolis in a cult rivalry clash, the command has formed the anti-cult unit to tackle cases of cult violence in the state. This unit has arrested 105 suspected cultists from Makurdi, Otukpo, Gboko and other areas,” he said.

Okon added that 78 of those apprehended were charged to court and remanded in prison custody while 22 innocent ones were released unconditionally and the remaining five are undergoing interrogation.

He expressed concern that the three major towns in the state had become hot spots for cultists as cases of gruesome murder, rape and other social vices are recorded on daily basis following their activities.

The commissioner said the command was not leaving any stone unturned in clamping down on the illegality,  stressing that his men were being proactive to curb the crime through intelligence network.

“Just last night (Wednesday), 15 more suspected cultists were arrested based on intelligence network. We now take the war to cultists through intelligence network without allowing them to strike first. We get them most times during their meetings,” he added.

Okon posited that his command was doing everything possible to make the three towns cult-free, especially in this yuletide season and further warned that the police would return fire-for-fire to criminally minded people during the period.

CP Okon paraded the suspects alongside dangerous items recovered from them at the police headquarters in Makurdi.