20th May, 2015
Jethro Ibileke/Benin
The renewed war against cultism in Edo state has led to the arrest of 14 Junior Secondary School (JSS) students by the State Police Command over their alleged involvement in cult-related activities in Benin City.
The students whose age range between 12 and 15 were picked last Thursday by a crack team of policemen at Oguola Secondary School, located at St. Savioir Street, Benin City.
It was reliably gathered that the suspected teenage cultists are being screened at the state criminal Investigation Department, SCID, police headquarters, Benin City.
Principal of the school, Mr. Ehanire Reuben who confirmed the report, disclosed that eight of the students were nabbed at flash spots in the school compound.
He stated that their arrest prompted the police team to conduct a search on some students in the classrooms.
According to Mr. Ehanire, items recovered from the suspected cultists include items believed to be emblems of notorious cult groups in Edo State.
Prior to their arrest, some of the suspects were alleged to have attacked a student teacher in the school and other persons in the area. Personal items of the teacher, including cell phone and wallet were alleged to have been forcefully taken from him.
Edo police command spokesman, DSP Stephem Onwochei who also confirmed the report, stated that the raid on the school followed a tip-off.
He disclosed that even though the arrested students were underage, the paraphernalia found on the students called for proper investigation, adding that the command would not leave any stone unturned in its renewed war against cultism and other crimes in the state.