Anambra police arrest 18-year-old suspected cultist, recover arms

The Anambra State Police Command said it apprehended one suspected cultist, who together with his gang members, were on their way to commit havoc in the Nibo community, Awka South Local Government Area of the state.

In a press statement on Saturday, the command’s spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, stated that police operatives attached to the Special Anti-Cultism Squad arrested the suspect and recovered one AK-47 rifle and magazine when they burst the criminal hideout of the gang, on Friday.

Ikenga added that the police were already on the trail of the fleeing gang members with efforts in place to arrest them.

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He said, “Police operatives attached to the Special Anti-Cultism Squad in Enugu-Okwu, acting on credible information on December 6, 2024, by 2.30 pm arrested one Miracle Mwakalor (M) 18 years from Umubele village, Awka-South Local Government Area and recovered one AK47 rifle and one magazine.

“The operatives burst the criminal gang in their den during an evil debrief on how they want to commit havoc in Nibo, Awka South Local Government on Saturday.

“Miracle was apprehended, but his other gang members escaped. During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and led the operatives to an apartment at Ubuofu Awka, where they hid the recovered rifle in the roof.

“Efforts are already emplaced to apprehend other fleeing gang members. Further developments would be communicated, please.”

Recall that a festival of blood was recorded in Nibo community and Nodu-Okpuno Village, both in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, on October 21, when no fewer than 13 persons were killed in separate cult-related clashes across various sections of the communities.

It was gathered that the killings started when violence erupted and escalated around the community during the community’s New Yam Festival tagged, ‘Nibo Onwa Asaa festival’, taking place on Sunday.

In a related development, Ikenga said the Anambra State Police Command recovered various numbers of stolen vehicles within two weeks of separate onslaught operations against criminal elements in the State.

He, therefore, informed members of the public of the following recovered vehicles in the Command, which include a Toyota Corolla (Red) with registration number ENUGU – AGN 409 AA, unregistered LEXUS ES 350 (Ash colour), Mitsubishi Hilux(blue) with registration number GDD 440 TJ, Lexus ES 330 Car (Ash colour) with registration number: ACA 551 MA, and Toyota Highlander Jeep (Grey colour) with registration number: SMK 544 GP.

“Given the above, the Command invites anyone or group looking for any of the vehicles as highlighted above, to come to the office of the Police Public Relations Office Awka with valid Proof/Evidence of Ownership of such vehicles for verification and possible collection, please”, he added.