The Anambra State Police Command, on Sunday, said it had arrested no fewer than 90 suspected cultists across the state.
The command added that offensive weapons and other incriminating items were recovered from the suspects.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Haruna Mohammed, in a statement on Sunday, said personnel attached to the command’s Operation Puff Adder, in conjunction with the Special Anti- Cult Unit, arrested 90 suspected cultists.
Explaining that the suspects were apprehended at various locations in the state, Mohammed added that it was in continuation of the raids on criminal hideouts and black spots in the state.
“At the Obosi area, six suspected cultists were arrested. At Ogidi, six suspected cultists were arrested, while at the Ihiala area, 15 suspected cultists were arrested,” the statement read in part.
Mohammed put the number of cultists arrested in Onitsha, Awka, Oko, Igbariam/Awkuzu and Nsugbe at 63.
“From all the raids carried out, a total number of 90 suspects have been arrested; 28 were screened out; 15 suspects were charged to court; 12 suspects were placed under police supervision for being underage; while 35 others are undergoing investigation,” the PPRO stated.
He listed exhibits recovered from the suspects as six Indian hemp.
In a related development, Mohammed said the command had arrested 25 – year- old Praise Okolie for snatching a vehicle at gunpoint in the Nkwelle Ogidi areas of the state.
He alleged that the suspect conspired with his accomplices to carry out the robbery.
Mohammed stated, “Following an intelligence report, police detectives attached to the Ogidi Division, in conjunction with a vigilante group , arrested at Nkwelle Ogidi one Praise Okolie of the same address.
“The suspect conspired with his accomplices now at large and snatched at gunpoint a Toyota Spider car with number plate FJK 54 CC from one Okpalaezekoli Ifeanyi of Omogba Phase 1 , Onitsha.”
He added that the suspect had confessed to the crime and the vehicle had been recovered from him and registered as an exhibit.
