The Edo State government under the leadership of Senator Monday Okpebholo in a renewed fight against crime and criminality has arrested a cultist, a ritualist and organ harvester in Esan Central Senatorial Districts.
Edo State Special security squad codenamed Operation flush out kidnapping and cultists in collaboration with Edo State security Corp, the Nigerian Police Force and other sister security agencies, supervised by the Principal Security Officer (PSO) to the governor carried out the demolition exercise at Uromi, Esan North East and Ewatto, Esan South East local government area of Edo State.
A bungalow and boys quarter belonging to a 40 year old man identified as Ebhata Eromosele, used for organ harvesting and ritual activities was completely demolished.
The building located at Uwalor-Oke in Uromi was used for ritual activities where
Eromosele harvest the organs of three young ladies out of which one of the victims, a pregnant young woman died in the process, one who was hospitalized has been discharged while another is receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in Esan Central Senatorial District.
Another building located at Idi-Negbon Eguare Ewatto used for cult related activities was also not spared as it was touched by bulldozers to serve as a deterrent to other criminals in the State.
Speaking to journalists after a successful operation in Uromi and Ewatto, the coordinator of Edo State Special security squad operation flush out kidnapping and cultists, Amiolemen Idemudia said criminals will be wiped out of Edo State.
He noted that Ebhata Eromosele engaged in ritual activities before nemesis caught up with him and have been arrested and today his building is demolished in Uromi.
“A lifeless body killed and dumped was traced by Edo State security Corp to this bungalow apartment used by the suspect.
“A search of this residence exposed the suspect as security operative saw bloodstained bedspread and other incriminating evidence indicating that Ebhata is into ritual activities and organ harvesting”.
Idemudia said the governor has warned that his administration will not tolerate crime of this nature and will make the State unsafe for criminal elements. “The government will not rest until the state is safe for all”.
On the cult issue, Idemudia said there were cult fracas in Ewatto disturbing the peace of the community.
He said that one Bright Ejetuwamen was in the forefront of the fight using his properties at Ewatto for cult related activities, noting that the property has been demolished.
“Governor Monday Okpebholo will not spare any hideout or properties used to perpetrate crime as it will be demolished. The cultist has been apprehended. All criminals must leave Edo State”.
The Zonal Commander Edo State Security Corps SP Johnson Oyameda (rtd) said the success recorded in the arrest of the ritual suspect was as a result of over a month surveillance.
“The body of a lady mutilated and dumped in a drainage was recovered while still alive. Not up to two weeks another body was recovered again and these incidents led to stepping up surveillance around the area and the surveillance paid off.
“Ebhata Eromosele murdered a lady and dumped the body but my men on surveillance saw him and trailed him to this apartment which has been demolished today”.
He noted that the suspect has carried out three ritual attacks and one out of his victims died, one hospitalized while the other one discharged from the hospital.
The Zonal Commander said upon searching the compound, bloodstained bedspread was seen and other incriminating evidence indicating that the suspect has engaged in criminality activities”.
Both the suspected ritualists and cultists have both been arrested and in the custody of the Edo State Police command for further investigation and prosecution.
