An Edo State High court sitting in Benin City has remanded 64 alleged cultists at the Custodial Centres of the Nigerian Correctional Service over cultism-related offences and other violent crimes.
Police authorities said the accused persons were caught through sustained intelligence-driven raids of their enclaves by security agents since the past one week in Benin City and environs.
Spokesman for the Nigeria Police Command in the State, CSP Moses Yamu, confirmed this on Friday May 2, 2025 in a press statement, which however did not give detail of the case.
Yamu revealed that 64 accused persons were among the 95 suspected cultists, who are alleged members of two rival confraternities linked to a the recent killings and violence in some parts of Edo State.
The police Spokesman also revealed that two locally made pistols, one single barrel shotgun and twenty-four (24) live cartridges were recovered from the suspects who have undergone profiling.
The statement said the Commissioner of Police in the State, CP Monday Agbonika, warned youths against belonging to unlawful societies in the State.
“Sixty-four (64) of the suspects have been charged to court and remanded, while investigation continues on the remaining suspects”, according to the statement.
The police Commissioner urged parents and guardians to keep a tab on the activities of their wards in order to curb the menace of cultism.
He also warned youths in the State to desist from joining unlawful societies that could only dim their future and ultimately claim their lives or that of other innocent persons.
TheNewspad reports that over 12 houses had been marked for demolition on the order of the State government which earlier demolished some buildings used as hideouts for criminals in some parts of the State.
In the meantime, the Peoples Democratic Party has accused the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo of weaponising fight against criminality to hound and harrass opposition members in Edo State.
PDP factional Chairman Caretaker Committee, Edo State chapter, Tony Aziegbemi who disclosed this while briefing the Media on Friday in Benin City.
He also accused the Governor of witch hunting party faithful in fighting insecurity, arising from the marking of the property of a PDP Chieftain for demolition after sealing a hotel belonging to a leader of the party over suspicion of aiding crimes and criminality in the State.
He said the party supports genuine efforts to combat insecurity and cult-related violence in the state, but such efforts must not be politicized or used as a cover to oppress opposition.
“Just three days ago, the hotel owned by one of our members, Hon. Matthew Iduoriyemkewen was sealed under the guise of fighting criminality.
“Two days ago, the private house of another prominent member of the PDP, Francis Inegbeneki, was earmarked for demolition—again under the guise of fighting criminality”, he said.
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