Crime

95 Suspected Cult Members Arrested in Edo as Police Recover Weapons

Published by Tope Fakinlede on May 3rd, 2025.

95 Suspected Cult Members Arrested in Edo as Police Recover Weapons

The Edo State Police Command has apprehended 95 individuals believed to be involved in cult-related activities following a week-long series of intelligence-led operations in Benin City and surrounding areas.

In a statement released Friday by the command’s spokesperson, CSP Moses Joel Yamu, the suspects were said to be affiliated with the Maphites, Eiye, and Aye confraternities—groups linked to recent violence and cult supremacy clashes in the state.

During the raids, officers recovered two locally crafted pistols, a single-barrel shotgun, and 24 live cartridges.

Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, urged parents and guardians to monitor their children’s activities closely to help curb the growing threat of cultism. He also issued a stern warning to youths, advising them to avoid joining illegal groups that could jeopardize their futures or endanger lives.

The statement confirmed that 64 of the suspects have already been charged and remanded in custody, while investigations are still ongoing for the remaining individuals.