BENIN CITY- Edo State Police Command, yesterday, arraigned 98 suspected cultists bringing to 227, the number of persons so far changed to court over their alleged ignoble roles in acts of terror, vicious inter and intra cult crises that led to the destruction of lives and property in the state, recently.
The 98 suspects’ arraignment was in compliance with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Solomon E. Erase that the suspects should be arraigned yesterday, Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
Briefing journalists in his office at the Command headquarters in Benin shortly after the suspects were led by armed policemen to the special court sitting at the conference hall of the police command, Benin City the state Commissioner of Police Mr. Samuel Adegbuyi stated that after completion of investigation, their arraignment became necessary.
COMPOL Adegbuyi disclosed that among the offences the suspects were arraigned included murder, unlawful possession of firearms, armed robbery, kidnapping and cultism.
“Note that between Tuesday 2nd day of June, 2015 and Wednesday 3rd day of June, 2015 129 suspects were arraigned, while today, Tuesday, June 9, 2015, 98 suspects were arraigned making a total number of suspects arraigned to 227.
“This achievement would not have been made possible but for the timely intervention of the Inspector-General of Police, the information and collaboration of the good citizens of Edo State Command, informants that synergize with the police as well as intervention of some community leaders”. Mr. Adegbuyi noted.
The police chief stated further that the suspects were apprehended at various locations across Edo state as the war against cultism is on-going.
He, however, solicited the cooperation of members of the public in the fight against cultism just as he pledged to make Edo State Police Command one of the best in the country.
Mr. Adegbuyi added that arms, ammunition, one short sword with cult symbol, eight cutlasses, one teargas, two battle axe, Aiye confraternity plaque, one shocking bating, one long sword and two neo-black movement regalia.
The Police prosecutor stated that, the suspects may be remanded in prison custody as the special court is just holding brief for the regular court which is currently on strike in the State
Speaking to reporters before they were ushered into the courtroom, some of the suspects alleged to be leaders of cult groups and government functionaries in the state who were reportedly paraded in Abuja admitted membership of various cult, but denied ownership of arms and ammunition displayed by police as exhibits recovered from the suspects.
It will be recalled that on Tuesday, May 12, 2015 some notable persons in Edo State were arrested as leaders of cult confraternities in the state by special squad deployed to Edo by the Inspector-General of Police to stem the wave of cult-related killings in Edo.
Cross session of suspected cultists and exhibits arraigned by police in Edo, yesterday.
