Edo: Police foil cult attack, nab 3 suspects, recover gun

By Imelda Osayande

Three men identified as Bright Amadin, 34, Brown Amadin, 29, and Stanley Omoregie, 27 alleged to be members of manphite cult gang have been arrested while planning to tack members of a rival cult gang in Benin city, Edo State.

The three suspects arrested by operatives of Police Command Intelligence Rapid Response Squad following information that they were planning to attack their perceived rival secret cult members and to also forcefully initiate others into the cult to mark their anniversary.

Spokesperson for Edo Police Command, Chidi Nwabuzor, said in a statement in Benin on Friday.

He added that to foil their plan, the operatives arrested three of the cult members at Okabere community, Upper Sakponba Road, in Ikpoba-Okha Local government area of Edo state.

He listed the items recovered from them as: One Pump-Action gun, Three live cartridges, and Some clothes with manphite insignia.

Nwabuzor said in the statement: “On 11/05/2023, the Officer in-charge of Command Intelligence Rapid Response Squad received information that some cultists who are members of manphite secret cult confraternity had planned to converge in an undisclosed location in Benin to carry out attack on their perceived rival secret cult members and to forcefully initiate innocent citizens in order to mark their anniversary.

“Immediately, the operatives commenced technical intelligence in order to foil their plans, and on 12/05/2023 at about 0230hrs, the operatives arrested three of the cult members at Okabere community, Upper Sakponba Road Benin.”

Nwabuzor said the suspects had made statements and confessed to being members of the dreaded manphite secret cult.

He further said that concerted effort is ongoing to arrest other cult members at large, adding that sooner, the suspects would be charged to court.

(NAN)