EKPOMA- seven suspected members of secret cult group have been apprehended by security agencies at Emuhi Community, a suburb of the university town of Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.
They were arrest by a con bind team of military, police and civilian Anti-Cult Group while initiating
of new members into their cult group know as “Black Axe”.
Following a tip off, the security agents had mobilized into the thick bush of Emuhi community, but before they could be rounded up, the cultists were said to have sense presence of security agents and consequently began firing gun shots.
In the ensuing gun battle, they were however over powered by the fire power of the security forces who arrested seven of them, while many others escaped with bullet wounds, abandoning their charms, regalia, initiation concoction, cut to size guns and others.
It was gathered that three of those arrest were from higher institutions from Lagos, Imo and Auchi.
The Dean of Students Affairs, Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Prof. Isaac Aigbedion said the attempted initiation exercise was an attempt to revive cultism in the institution that been suppressed through the recent cult renunciation programme organized by the university.
According him, remnant cult group in town invited their colleague cultists from other universities to embark on the failed initiation exercise to revive cultism in the institution.
“The renunciation programme organized by the university management in collaboration with the churches have yielded results as the unrepentant ones who solicited assistance from other states to revive the group were arrested.
“Information at our disposal indicated that some cultists were recruited from Lagos, Imo and Auchi. So far, the university has recorded about 60 persons, including ladies, renouncing membership of various cult groups”, he said.
It would be recalled that the university recently organized a two-day renunciation programme during many students publicly renounced membership of various cult groups.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Esan West Local Government, Mr. Jekene Eni disclosed to The NIGERIAN OBSERVER that the case has been transferred to state police headquarters in Benin City for further investigations.
