100 Suspected Cultists Arrested

Over 100 persons suspected to be cultists have been arrested in Makurdi, Benue State, northcentral Nigeria, by the Benue State Police Command.

The State Police Command Spokesman, DSP Philip Agena who confirmed the arrest Tuesday, said the police only embarked on a routine raid and declined to state any figure, adding that investigation was already ongoing.

P.M.NEWS learnt that the arrest follows a massive clampdown by the police on cult activities in Makurdi, the capital of Benue , where over 10 members of rival cults groups have been killed in different parts of Makurdi.

Most of arrests, P.M.NEWS gathered, were made at High Level, Wurukum, Wadata and North Bank areas of the town which are noted for cult activities.

A source who pleaded anonymity told P.M.NEWS that the police are worried by the recent upsurge in cult activities and decided to embark on the raid.

“What is happening in Makurdi has become a source of great worry to everybody. Cult activities have been on the increase, leading to the death of several persons in town; and the police will not sit down and watch these cultists have a field day. That is why there is increased police patrols in the nooks and crannies of the town in the last few days,” he said.

He further said that the police has commenced a thorough screening of all those arrested to ascertain their involvement.

When P.M.NEWS visited the State Police Command Headquarters in Makurdi, parents and relatives of those arrested were seen making frantic efforts to secure the bail of their children and wards.

By Ubong George/Makurdi