Police arrest suspected teenage cultist over attempted murder in Edo
The police in Edo State have arrested a suspected teenage cultist over the alleged attempted murder of a JSS III student, Naomi Monday, in Agbado community, Iguobazuwa, Ovia South-West Local Government Area of the state. The suspect, identified as Emmanuel Keta, was reportedly initiated into a cult group in December 2025 and allegedly given a […]
The police in Edo State have arrested a suspected teenage cultist over the alleged attempted murder of a JSS III student, Naomi Monday, in Agbado community, Iguobazuwa, Ovia South-West Local Government Area of the state.
The suspect, identified as Emmanuel Keta, was reportedly initiated into a cult group in December 2025 and allegedly given a mandate to kill 11 persons as a condition for promotion within the group.
He was said to have stormed the victim’s residence with a cutlass at about 1pm when she returned from school, with the intention of killing her.
Keta, a neighbour who hails from Ogoja, allegedly inflicted machete cuts on the victim without provocation.
The victim was rescued by neighbours who heard her screams for help, while the suspect fled the scene.
Sources said the attack was the first in what was believed to be a series of planned assaults tied to the suspect’s alleged cult initiation.
He was later tracked and arrested by operatives of the Edo State Security Corps and handed over to the police for further investigation.
The victim’s elder sister, Esther Monday, has called for justice, saying her sister is currently battling for her life at the hospital.
Confirming the incident, the command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, described it as a case of attempted murder, adding that the suspect confessed to the crime.
She said the suspect claimed he was pressured to kill a number of people to complete his initiation rites.
According to her, the Commissioner of Police has ordered the transfer of the suspect to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.