Police arrest 35 suspected cultists in Benue

The Police in Benue State have arrested 35 suspected cultists from two local government areas of the state. The state’s Commissioner of Police, Bashir Makama, said on Tuesday when he paraded the suspects at the Command headquarters in Makurdi that his men through intelligence first intercepted 26 and then another nine following a lead. Makama […]

The Police in Benue State have arrested 35 suspected cultists from two local government areas of the state.

The state’s Commissioner of Police, Bashir Makama, said on Tuesday when he paraded the suspects at the Command headquarters in Makurdi that his men through intelligence first intercepted 26 and then another nine following a lead.

Makama explained that 26 of the suspects between ages of 31 and 18 who claimed to belong to the ‘Black Axe Confraternity’ were in convoy of three commercial vehicles on their way to Makurdi from Ogbadigbo local government area with the intention to cause mayhem on residents of North bank community in Makurdi.

He added that the remaining nine suspects were apprehended in Lessel town of Ushongo local government area by policemen on patrol following a receipt of information about a cult clash which led the security operatives to quickly move to the scene and arrested one Shedrack Shior.

The police commissioner said that upon interrogation, the 20-year-old, Shior, confessed to be a member of the Black Axe cult group and led the policemen to the arrest of the eight others in connection with their cult activities.

Makama listed the items recovered from the suspects to include; one blood stained cutlass, one axe and one knife.

He warned that the command would not tolerate any act of unrest in the state.

In a related development, Governor Samuel Ortom, while swearing in the state’s new Chief Judge has advised Benue parents to warn their children against indulging in cultist activities as anyone caught would be sanctioned according to the provisions of the law recently enacted in the state.

The governor therefore urged parents/guidance to caution their children to ensure they don’t fall victims of cultism, stressing that there would be no protection for thugs in his administration.