Police raid cultists’ hideout in Imo, make arrests

The police in Imo State have raided cultists’ meeting venue on the outskirts of Owerri, the state capital, and arrested some suspects.

According to Dave Akinremi, a deputy commissioner of police (DCP) and sec- ond in command in the state, there was a tip-off to the force state headquarters on 28 June, that some 15 cultists were gathering for a meeting at the Egbu Community Girls Secondary School, Egbu, Owerri.

Akinremi said upon accessing the meeting venue, the police team came under heavy firing from the suspected cultists.

In the ensuing gun battle two of the alleged cultists were fatally injured, one of them, Chimaobi said to be the kingpin of the cult group known as Black Axe, was badly injured that he gave up hours later.

Speaking to journalists at the state police command headquarters, the police boss said the command is, however, convinced that the young men were not cult members but armed robbers; since they were fully armed and engaged the police in a gun battle.

“By this action, we are of the strong opinion that they were not cultists, but armed robbers; since fully armed. Besides, they engaged our men in a gun battle.

It was when our fire power over whelmed theirs, that three were arrested, with two injured in the exchange of gun shots,” Akinremi stated.

He informed that some dangerous items such as short guns, live ammuni- tion, machetes, and phones were recov- ered from the suspected cultists.

Kidnapping and cult-related inci- dences recently returned to Imo, and are gradually assuming a frightening dimension.

The deputy commissioner of police called on the general public to cooperate with police to rid the society of cultism and other criminality.

He also asked parents to warn their children and wards on living riotous life; as well as monitor their movements.

BEN EGUZOZIE