The Edo State Police Command has arrested and paraded 23 suspects for their involvement in various criminal activities across the state.
This development was disclosed by the state’s Commissioner of Police, Umoru Ozigi, during a press briefing held in Benin City on Sunday.
Ozigi explained that the suspects were arrested for offenses ranging from cultism to kidnapping, with 19 of them linked to cult-related activities and the remaining four accused of involvement in abduction cases.
The arrests were part of ongoing efforts by the police to curb violent crimes and restore order in the state.
Highlighting the locations of the arrests, Ozigi revealed that some suspects were apprehended in Jattu/Ibie and Comprehensive Road in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area, while others were nabbed at the Benin-Agbor Road bypass and the Benin-Lagos Expressway in Benin City.
Speaking on the crackdown, Ozigi stated, “The suspects are members of Eiye Confraternity, Vikings, Black Axe Confraternity, and Buccaneer Confraternity.”
He emphasized that the police are intensifying efforts to address the persistent menace of cult-related violence and other criminal activities in the state.
The police commissioner also showcased an array of items recovered during the operation.
These included nine pump-action guns, three single-barrel guns, two fabricated Beretta pistols, and three cut-to-size fabricated guns.
Additional items recovered were 82 live cartridges, 14 expended cartridges, an axe, a gun muffler, and a Lexus ES 330 vehicle.
Ozigi assured the public that the suspects are currently under investigation and would face prosecution.
“The suspects would be charged in court after investigation,” he stated, underscoring the commitment of the Edo State Police Command to maintaining law and order.
