The men of the Edo State Police Command have arrested a 68year old identified as Okoh Peter and for others for alleged cult-related activities.
The police also arrested a motorcyclist who opened fire at the police at Auchi.
The Deputy Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Jennifer Iwegbu, An Assistant Superintendent of Police, said in a State on Monday that the operation was part of the ongong efforts to rid the State of criminal.
She gave the names of the suspects as Andrew Owhoyavwosa ‘M’ 22yrs, Joseph Meshak ‘M’ 25yrs, Osazee Solomon ‘M’ 35yr, Godswill Obasohan ‘M’ 25yrs, Charles Odiase ‘M’ 52yrs and Okoh Peter ‘M’ 68yrs.
According to her the police recovered some arms and ammunition and some money from the suspected cultists.
She said, “With the determination to check the menace and excesses of cultism and unnecessary killings in Edo State, men of anti cultism unit of Edo State Police Command have been working round the clock with area commands and divisions to ensure that the ugly trend is stopped.
“The move by the police have yielded tremendous success during operations.
On the 02/07/2022 at about 17:15hrs, operatives of state Command, Ekiadolor sector while on routine patrol within Ekowe Community and environs, intercepted some suspected cultists at the community’s youth house.
“The suspects on sighting the police took to their heels which attracted the attention of the operatives. The operatives chased and arrested five of them, Andrew Owhoyavwosa ‘M’ 22yrs, Joseph Meshak ‘M’ 25yrs, Osazee Solomon ‘M’ 35yr, Godswill Obasohan ‘M’ 25yrs, Charles Odiase ‘M’ 52yrs and Okoh Peter ‘M’ 68yrs.
“On the spot search conducted at the scene led to the recovery of two locally made single barrel guns, one locally cut to size single barrel gun, 30 live cartridges, a first aid box, other items as well as N37, 000.
She stated also that police Operatives and vigilantes arrested a motorcyclist during routine patrol along Igbe Road in Auchi Etsako West Local Governmebt Area of the state.
Iwegbu said he shot at the police team in an attempt to escape but but eventually overpowered and taken into custody.
She said that one locally made cut to size single barrel gun, one live cartridge and one expended cartridge, and the motorcycle with Reg no. BEN-316-QP were recovered from him.