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.
