By Ikeugonna Eleke
At least, four teenage cultists were among 44 suspected cultists arrested by men of the Anambra State Police Command, Fides has gathered.
A press statement by the Anambra State command’s spokesperson, SP Haruna Mohammed, stated that operatives of Operation Puff-Adder, in conjunction with the Special Anti-Cult Unit (SPACS), arrested the suspects after it raided various hideouts and black spots in the state where the suspects were hiding.
He disclosed that from all the raids carried out, a total of 44 suspects were arrested, out of which 10 suspects were screened out; 10 charged to court, while 24 others were undergoing investigation.
Exhibits recovered from the suspects who confessed being members of different secret cult groups, according to the police, included, four improvised bunkers, six machetes, one axe, one butcher’s short knife, a bundle of foil, one packet of rizzler and some quantity of dry weeds suspected to be cannabis sativa.
Haruna said the teenage cultists among them were arrested on 26th June at about 8:15pm by the Command’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) at Oba where they drugged and raped a 14-year old female student.
The suspects, Chinedu Umera, 18 years; Uboh Oluebube, 16 years; Obute Chinwendu, 17 years and Chukwuma Amazu, 18 years, all raped the girl after abducting and threatening her with a gun.
Haruna said the suspects and two others at large went to Anglican Girls’ School, Oba, at about 5pm; drugged and abducted a 14-year old girl, took her to a building at Oba, robbed, threatened her with two double barrel guns and had unlawful carnal knowledge of her for two consecutive days.
‘The suspects also confessed to being members of Junior Vikings (JVC) and the two arms have been recovered in their possession as exhibits.
‘Meanwhile, the victim was taken to the hospital for medical attention and case is under investigation after which suspects would be charged to court for prosecution,’ Haruna stated.
