Police in Anambra state have paraded a 16-year-old suspected cultist alongside 80 criminals on Monday.
WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that the yet-to-named suspected cultist brought a double-barrelled gun to his (secondary) school compound at Igboukwu in Aguaata Local Government Area of the state.
According to the police command, the arrests were part of efforts to stem the tide of cultism and other nefarious activities in the state during the ember months.
Speaking on the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Mohammed Haruna said the Command’s Special Anti-Cult Unit, SPACS, carried out the raids at various hideouts and black spots where the suspected were hibernating.
He said that while 15 suspects were arrested at Ogidi /Nkpor axis, six were arrested at Awka /Amansea axis.
Similarly, five were arrested at Onitsha /Nkpor, seven at Oba/Nnewi, six at Nsugbe/Nkwelle-Ezunaka, eight at Ogbunike/Abagana, four at Nawfia and another four at Nimo/Abagana.
Others are 12 at Ifitedunu/Awkuzu axis, four at Amikwo, five at Nsugbe/3-3 axis and four at Ebenebe/Ugbenu.
According to the police spokesman, out of the number, 40 had been charged to court, while 15 were screened and released unconditionally.
Also, he added, five of the suspects were placed under police supervision for being underaged, while 20 suspects confessed membership of the cult groups.
Items recovered from them include two pump action guns, 10 machetes, five axes, two daggers, three barrettes, one double-barrelled gun, two locally-made pistol and three live cartridges.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. John Abang, commended Anambra people for providing the command with actionable intelligence and reassured the public of adequate protection.
