Afrocover
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics & Policies
  • Africa-Wide
  • Opinions
  • Exclusive
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Afrocover
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics & Policies
  • Africa-Wide
  • Opinions
  • Exclusive
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Afrocover
No Result
View All Result

Edo police arrests suspected cultists linked to vigilante killings

By Rasheed Aladejana

July 5, 2025
in News
0
Edo police arrests suspected cultists linked to vigilante killings
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Whatsapp

The Edo State Police Command has intensified its clampdown on cult-related activities in the state, leading to the arrest of 16 suspects, including a key member of the Maphite Confraternity linked to the killing of three vigilante operatives in Benin City.

The command also recovered assorted firearms, live ammunition, dangerous weapons, and illicit drugs during the operations, which spanned across multiple divisions in the state.

Spokesperson of the Edo State Police command, Moses Yamu, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, noting that the arrests were the outcome of sustained intelligence-led operations, raids on criminal hideouts, and targeted searches across identified flashpoints.

According to Yamu, one of the suspects, Bello Salami, 33, was apprehended at the Benin Airport on June 28, 2025, at about 10:00 a.m., while attempting to flee the state after being linked to the murder of three vigilante members along Wire Road in Benin City.

The statement read: “The fight against cultism and other heinous crimes in Edo State, and the bid to restore public confidence, has been further demonstrated by the Edo State Police Command with the recent successes recorded across the state.

“One Bello Salami, 33, a member of the Maphite Confraternity, who was linked to the recent killing of three vigilante members along Wire Road in Benin City, was arrested on June 28, 2025, at about 10:00 a.m. at the Benin Airport while attempting to flee the state.”

In another operation on June 26, 2025, at about 3:00 p.m., operatives of the Aduwawa Division, acting on credible intelligence, arrested Abdulahi Eriamiator (18) and Moses Humphrey (25), both members of the Vikings Confraternity.

Later that same day, at about 6:00 p.m., operatives of the South Ibie Division arrested one Ahmed Hakeem (23), a member of the Aye Confraternity. Further investigations led to the arrest of Williams Kayode (25), David Sylvester (21), Oshoke Itepu (22), Emmanuel Monday (27), and Daniel Ehichioya (21), all residents of South Ibie in Etsako West Local Government Area.

Items recovered from them included one shotgun, four live cartridges, two axes, one cutlass, and a bunker of “ice,” an illicit drug. All suspects confessed to being members of the Aye Confraternity.

The statement continued: “Similarly, operatives of the Irrua Division, led by the DPO and acting on actionable intelligence, arrested one Ogbe Osaghele (29), of Ebhoakhuale-Ekpoma, at Idumebo-Irrua. He was found in possession of a cut-to-size shotgun and two live cartridges. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend one Odion Osaghele and two others now at large, who are also members of the Aye Confraternity.”

“On June 28, 2025, operatives of the Ekpoma Area Command tracked and arrested one Itua Odion (22) at a hotel in Ekpoma through credible information. Upon searching him, a fabricated pistol and two live cartridges were recovered. The suspect confessed to being the Esan Area Zonal Leader of the Neo Black Movement (NBM), also known as the Black Axe Confraternity.”

“On June 29, 2025, at about 3:00 p.m., operatives of the Jattu Division raided a flashpoint along Ibie Road and arrested one Hamza Umoru (27), of Ikabigbo Community. The suspect confessed to being a member of the Vikings Confraternity.

“Additionally, operatives of the Auchi Division intercepted and arrested Emmanuel Udeh (27), Kalifa Kabir (24), and Ashiru Ahmed (22) at various locations in Auchi. They were found in possession of a Jojef Magnum pump-action shotgun with breech number 23YT0083. The trio, disguised as iron scrap scavengers, had concealed the firearm.”

“Finally, on July 1, 2025, at about 1:30 a.m., the residence of one Jerry Orobor (50), located at No. 6 Ewinmandowan Street, off Major Road in Amagba Community, was raided based on credible information. A search of his house and premises led to the recovery of one automatic double-barrel shotgun, 10 live cartridges, and a fez cap bearing the Aye Confraternity logo. The suspect is in custody for further investigation.”

The PPRO added that all suspects would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

He also noted that the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, has reassured the public of the command’s unwavering commitment to combating cultism and urged residents to go about their lawful activities while reporting any suspicious movements to the police.

 

 

Related Posts

WAFCON: CAF president hails Morocco’s football advancement 
News

WAFCON: CAF president hails Morocco’s football advancement 

President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Dr. Patrice Motsepe, has lauded Morocco’s unwavering commitment to the development...

by Rasheed Aladejana
July 5, 2025
Ex Army chief calls for return of military discipline through NYSC
News

Ex Army chief calls for return of military discipline through NYSC

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (retd.), has called for the introduction of mandatory military training for...

by Rasheed Aladejana
July 5, 2025
Chief imam rapes 8-year-old in Osun
News

Chief imam rapes 8-year-old in Osun

The Chief Imam of a mosque in Babasanya-Araka Area of Ede, Osun State, simply identified as Kadiri, has confessed...

by Rasheed Aladejana
July 5, 2025
US court jails Nigerian over teen’s sextortion death
News

COVID-19 fraud: US court jails Nigerian pastor over $4.2m

A United States District Court has sentenced a Nigerian pastor, Edward Oluwasanmi, to 27 months over a $4.2 million...

by Emmanuel Oluwadola
July 5, 2025
Next Post
Oyo teachers face sack for ignoring return-to-duty order

Oyo teachers face sack for ignoring return-to-duty order

Afrocover news

The Afrocover team is a group of media enthusiasts that are committed to illuminate information fairness and objective media coverage across Africa. We also cover the depth of African Politics, History, Culture, Entertainment, and the Economy as the case may be.

© 2025 Afrocover – All right reserved

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Loading
Facebook Twitter
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics & Policies
  • Africa-Wide
  • Opinions
  • Exclusive
  • About Us
    • Contact Us

© 2025 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.