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Tag: cultists

  • Killings: UNICAL arrests 11 alleged cultists, tightens security around campus

    The management of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) on Monday said it has deployed security around and within the institution over the killing of two students by gunmen in a suspected renewed wave of cult clashes on campus.

    Following the development, 11 suspected cultists have been arrested and handed over to the anti-cultism and kidnap unit of the Cross River State Police Command in Calabar.

    Vice-Chancellor of UNICAL, Prof. Zana Akpagu, in a statement issued through the Registrar, Mr. Moses Abang, said police patrol teams have been stationed at the main gate of the institution, while the internal security team is stationed at other strategic parts of the campus.

    The vice-chancellor further directed random stop-and-search of persons and vehicles at vulnerable points.

    Akpagu said, “The patrol exercise has paid off with the arrest of 11 suspected cultists who have been handed over to the anti-cultism and kidnapping unit of the Nigeria Police, Cross River State Command, for further interrogation.

    “On March 16, 2018, gunmen launched attacks on one Oko Sylvester, also known as Davido, a final year student of the Department of Theatre, Film and Carnival Studies; and Wilson Ebina, a second year student of the Department of Education Science (Chemistry Education) in a violent manner that resulted in their deaths.

    “Investigation revealed that prior to his death, Oko Sylvester, who was shot in the stomach, has been on suspension for his involvement in various acts of cultism and robbery; while Wilson Ebina was shot dead at a building under construction opposite the Faculty of Education Twin Theatre Hall.

    “Both are said to belong to the Vikings Confraternity.”

    Meanwhile, the statement noted that a final year student in the Faculty of Law and resident of Hall Four, Augustine Nkanu, also known as Abacha; and Joseph Obimbua, alias Obe, also a final year student of the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences are on the run after dangerous weapons were allegedly discovered in Nkanu’s room by the school security operatives.

    Items recovered from the room include one locally made pistol, one small axe, one face mask, live and expended cartridges, military camouflage, military sweater, one long dagger, one machete, assorted bottles of concoctions, charms and rings, among others.

    The items have been handed over to the Anti-Cultism Unit of the state Police Command for further investigation.

  • Cultists surrender arms, ammunition in Badagry [PHOTO]

    Dozens of youths of Badagry community of Lagos State on Thursday surrendered their arms and ammunition to the Police in the area.

    Members of the Eiye and Aiye cult groups renounced their membership at the Badagry West Local Government Headquarters.

    Weapons surrendered include AK47, pump action, live rounds, axes, machetes, locally made pistols and SMGs among others.

    Speaking, Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, stated that cultism was the biggest recurring problem in Lagos.

    “We are making progress. This is a big problem intertwine with drug abuse even to the ridiculous extent of taking it to primary schools and recruiting these children into cultism”, he said.

    “I remember the experience at Ikorodu, where over 250 boys and girls of cult groups renounced and surrendered arms after which I urged other communities to emulate Ikorodu’s bold step.

    “We have to be more vigilant. The task is not for the police alone, there must be collective and concerted efforts by everyone. Entry and exit into schools must be well-documented.

    “The problem of cultism has left our shores. Young Nigerian boys and girls who travelled to India and Malaysia to either study or do business are forming cult groups over there and killing themselves.

    “How long are we – parents, leaders, clerics – going to watch this happen? Other communities in Lagos should emulate what’s going on here today. We must join hands to fight this menace

    “We call the local government and other relevant bodies concerned to talk to the youths, give them training for us to reintegrate them into the society. Among these youths today are PhD, Bsc, HND and more degree holders of various institutions”.

    Executive Chairman, Badagry Local Government, Mr. Onilude Adeniran lamented that cultism was now practised in primary schools.

    “Every now and then, my office receives news about cases of drug abuse and cultism in our secondary schools.

    “To worsen the case, every street in our cities , towns and even villages seem to belong to one cult group or the other. How did we get here?

    “We made up our mind to rid our local government of traces of cultism. Today’s event is a result of weeks of painstaking interactions, negotiations and even sacrifices.

    “On our part as administration, we promise to provide all within our means to ensure your rehabilitation into the peace society. We are already taking steps on that.”

    In attendance were Oba Akran of Badagry, De Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi 1 and his High Chief, Hundungan Samuel the Agoloto of Badagry, DPO of Seme, Mr. A.A. Smith; DPO of Orogbo Station, Johnson Adagba among others.

  • Stay away from Ekiti – Fayose warns cultists, kidnappers

    Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has warned cultists and kidnappers to stay away from the state or risk being arrested and prosecuted.

    To make good his threat, the governor has given security agencies in the state a marching order to fish out those involved in the killing of two students of the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti.

    He promised to eject cultists from tertiary institutions in the state just the same way he ended herdsmen menace in Ekiti

    Fayose, in a statement on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, said security agents had been placed on the alert to secure some points in the state that some people wanted to turn to kidnapping spots.

    The governor, who expressed disgust at last week’s Monday killing of Ojo Segun and Monday’s killing of Ayodele Temilade, both of EKSU, vowed that the culprits would not go unpunished, adding that the Ekiti State House of Assembly would enact a law soon to prohibit cultism in the state.

    “We won’t allow anybody to tarnish the image of EKSU and the state. We have been experiencing peace in the state and the recent killings are condemnable. The police will surely fish out the perpetrators. I won’t allow anybody to turn the institution into a place of bloodshed.

    “I have told the management of the institution to stamp out cult activities. People sent to go and study should face their studies squarely. Also, security agents are monitoring the activities of some bad eggs who want to turn Ogotun-Igbaraoke-Ikere axis and Oye-Imojo-Ayede axis to kidnappers’ areas of operation. We are on top of the situation and there is no hiding place for criminal elements in the state,” he said.

    While urging the public not to aid or abet criminals and their activities, he added that some dedicated telephone lines: 09030002151, 09030002161 and 08062336577, had been made available for them to contact the police.

  • 22,430 repentant cultists surrender arms in Rivers

    Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers said on Monday that the State’s amnesty programme witnessed 22, 430 repentant cultists surrendered 911 assorted arms to the amnesty Committee.

    Wike dropped the hint at a Town Hall meeting and accountability Forum to mark his administration’s second year anniversary in Port Harcourt.

    He stated that the amnesty programme had reduced cult related violence and other criminal activities in the state.

    The governor noted that the programme had also resulted in surrendering 7,661 assorted ammunitions and 147 explosives by the repentant cultists.

    Wike stressed that his administration had provided over 150 patrol vans to the security agencies to fight crime in the state.

    He said that the State Government had also handed over some gun boats to the Nigerian Navy in a bid to patrol and protect the Rivers waterways.

    The governor stated that his administration had in the last two years made unprecedented investments in infrastructure, which had led to economic boom in the state.

    Wike noted that 13 General Hospitals in 13 local government areas were undergoing reconstruction with the completed ones awaiting furnishing and inauguration.

    ‘’ We are also completing the regional hospitals started by the immediate past administration, located in Etche and Degema councils to serve as referral centres for secondary and tertiary health care, ‘’ he added.

    He said that his government had released over four million US dollars to equip and maintain the Braithwait Memorial Hospital to international standard.

    Wike stated that the gesture was to enable it serve as the Teaching Hospital for the Rivers State University Medical School, pending the construction of its permanent site.

    He noted that moribund businesses were gradually re-opening in the state, while fresh local and foreign businesses were being attracted to the State.

    The governor disclosed that his administration had cancelled multiple taxation policy in order to enable business to thrive to the benefit of the people and to attract more investors.

    “We are also supporting the growth of indigenous entrepreneurs through contracts as well as encouraging small and micro-enterprises with financial support to revitalize local economies, ‘’ he added.

    Wike said that in the last two years his administration had invested over N145 billion on the construction of roads, bridges, pedestrian walkways and underground drainage systems.

    ” As we speak, several road construction works are either underway or completed in Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Abua/Odual, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Akuku Toru.

    ‘’Also in Degema, Etche, Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro, Ikwerre, Emohua, Khana, Gokana, Okrika, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Oyigbo, and Tai Local Government Areas of the State, he said.

    The governor pointed out that his administration was improving the quality of education by creating enabling environment for the system to produce graduates with skills and knowledge to drive development.

    He noted that 300 primary schools were being refurbished and equipped across the state, while infrastructure at the Rivers State University was being upgraded to ensure successful accreditation of courses.

    The governor said that the state government had reconstructed major secondary schools in the three senatorial districts to re-introduce boarding education.

    Wike advocated for fiscal federalism in Nigeria where every state could have complete control of its resources and develop at its own pace.

    “We must find ways to forgive one another, open avenues of co-operation and join hands together, defeat the smacks of poverty and inequality in our society,” he said.

    The Chairman of the occasion and former Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Iche Ndu hailed Gov. Wike for his developmental strides.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Mr Kenneth Kobani said that Wike administration had made giant developmental strides in the last two years.

    NAN reports that the highlight of the occasion was passing of vote of confidence on Gov. Wike by people of Rivers.

  • Police prosecute 80 cultists in Anambra

    The Anambra Police Command said it prosecuted 80 people for cultism related crimes between January and April.

    CSP Christopher Bassey, Commander of the Special Anti-Cultism Squad (SPACS) told newsmen in Onitsha on Sunday that all the command has also secured 80 convictions.

    Bassey said that the convicted cultists terrorised Obosi, Nkpor, Ogidi, Awada and Onitsha communities, adding that many suspects were set free after being counseled.

    “We are able to send about 80 notorious cultists to prison by the help of the courts while scores were counseled and released.

    “I think parents should monitor the company their children keep because investigations showed that those arrested were influenced by suspected criminals, who provide them with hard drugs, guns and money,” he said.

    Basey advised youths to shun cultism, warning that the police will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute anyone involved in the act.

    According to him, we will not spare anyone because the hard drugs they take influence them into constituting nuisance, and sometimes, commit violent crimes in the society.

    The commander, who denied that the police torture suspects, said they were rather screened for prosecution or counsel when arrested.

    “We advised them against engaging in crimes,” he stressed.

  • Army kills 5 suspected cultists in Rivers

    Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army on Wednesday shot dead five suspected cultists during gun battle in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers.

    General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Port Harcourt, Maj.-Gen. Kasimu Abdulkarim, who confirmed the killings, said the battle was part of “Operation Cleanup” of cultists and militants terrorising residents.

    According to him, troops have so far recovered five AK 47 assault rifles from cultists in the area since January 1.

    “Army 6 Division has recorded appreciable successes in its bid to rid the local government of cultists and brigands,” Abdulkarim added.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), gathered from community sources that the incident started when troops stormed the area after receiving distress call over the cultists.

    Eyewitness account said the suspected cultists invaded Omoku town on Tuesday night and shot dead two unidentified young men before making attempt to escape.

    “After killing the men, they shot sporadically before soldiers closed in on them”, an eyewitness said.

    NAN recalls the division recently launched a major operation in the area shortly after a DSP Mohammed Alkali and his orderly were beheaded by cultists during the Dec. 10 legislative elections in the state.