On Monday, the Edo State Police Command announced that Okoh Peter, 65, and four other people had been detained for allegedly participating in cultism in Benin.
A motorcycle rider who fired at police officers as he tried to flee was also apprehended in Auchi.
The deputy police public relations officer, ASP Jennifer Iwegbu, stated in a press release that the arrest was part of the police’s ongoing effort to purge the state of criminal elements.
The statement read, “With 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 has yielded tremendous success during operations.
“On July 2, 2022, at about 17:15hrs, operatives of the 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 added.
Additionally, the biker was detained by Command personnel working with vigilantes on July 3, 2022, at around 02:30 a.m., while on routine patrol along Igbe Road in the state’s Auchi Etsako West Local Government Area.
He was reportedly acting strangely when he was approached, and in an effort to get away and avoid capture, he shot at the police, but was quickly subdued and taken into custody.
The statement added, “On-the-spot search conducted on him led to the recovery of one locally made cut to size single barrel gun, one live cartridge and one expended cartridge, while the motorcycle with Reg no. BEN-316-QP was also confiscated.
“During preliminary investigation, the suspect confessed to being a member of the dreaded Vikings Confraternity. He will be charged to court at the end of the investigation,” the Iwegbu noted.
The state’s people have been reassured by the police commissioner that the Command would continue to make efforts to purge the state of criminal elements and those who support them. He urged the general public to support the police by continuing to provide timely and reliable information that would result in the capture of offenders.
