Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, has intensified its anti-cultism campaign with the arrest of two additional suspected cult members.

The institution continues its crackdown following the murder of 300-level Biochemistry student, David Solomon.

Reports shows that Solomon was murdered on June 11, within the university environment.

In a statement on Wednesday in Lokoja, Uredo Omale, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of PAAU, said the arrests were part of the ongoing efforts to restore peace after the tragic killing of the 300-level student.

According to her, the suspects, Fidelis Atuluku, and Monday Okolo, both 100 Level students of the Department of Social Studies/Education, were trailed and  arrested on campus on Tuesday, based on a tip-off.

“They were caught in possession of charms and have confessed to being members of the Juris Confraternity.

“The students also admitted they were initiated into the cult before gaining admission into PAAU.

“The suspects will be handed over to appropriate law enforcement agencies for further investigation and prosecution,” she said.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Salisu Usman, reaffirmed the university’s resolve to sustain its war against cultism and criminality until sanity is restored.

Usman described the killing of Solomon as painful and unacceptable, stressing that cult-related violence threatened the university’s academic mission.

He urged parents and guardians to monitor their children closely and guide them on the company they keep to prevent recruitment into cult groups.

The VC also disclosed that the university has commenced profiling of cult members who voluntarily surrender, sign undertakings, and pledge to denounce membership.

He said the amnesty window remained open for willing members to report to the Office of the Chief Security Officer or the Dean of Student Affairs.

He added that a formal renunciation ceremony would soon be organized for those ready to publicly renounce cultism and embrace lawful conduct on campus.

The VC thanked security agencies, religious leaders, traditional rulers, and concerned individuals for their support in the fight against cultism.

He encouraged students to cooperate with management to maintain a peaceful, secure, and conducive learning environment.

The university management assured that investigations into the murder of Solomon were ongoing, while security surveillance on campus had been heightened to prevent further attacks.

The Police in Lagos on Thursday, arraigned two suspects, Hammed Musa, 37, and Kayode Onifade, 36, before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court over alleged membership of a secret cult and disturbance of the peace in community.

The defendants, who live in Lagos, are facing three-count charge of conspiracy, breach of peace and belonging to secret cult.

The Prosecution Counsel, DSP Kehinde Ajayi, told the court that the defendants and others still at large, committed the offences on April 14, at 7:06 p.m., at Shomolu Bariga, Lagos.

Ajayi said that the defendants belonged to a secret cult, “Eiye confraternity” who caused public disturbances in the community.

He said the offences contravened Sections 411, 168, and 2(3)(a)(b)(c)(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Ejiro Kubeinje, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N150, 000 each with two sureties in like sum.

She ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed and show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos state government.
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The magistrate also said that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the defendants.

She adjourned the case until June 1 for mention.

The Police Command in Lagos on Wednesday has put policemen on alert over planned celebration of July 7 a.k.a ‘7/7 by some cult groups.

7/7 is an annual celebration of a group, Neo Black Movement of Africa, also known as Black Axe.

Lagos State Police Command’s Spokesperson, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement that the alert was necessary to curtail cult-related activities in the state.

“In its bid to curtail cult-related activities and forestall any possible breakdown of law and order in Lagos State, the Lagos State Police Command has warned against any gathering, under whatever guise.

“In commemoration of the 7/7 Annual Celebration (Boogie-Night) of the Neo Black Movement of Africa, a.k.a Black Axe today July 7, 2021, the command has put its officers and men on red alert.

“The Police Command, based on availability and processed intelligence at its disposal, has deemed it necessary to warn the group to desist from any celebration to commemorate today 7/7/2021,” Adejobi said.

Adejobi warned any group of persons under any nomenclature, particularly members of the Neo Black Movement of Africa, a.k.a Black Axe, to steer clear of the state.

He said the police and other security agencies were prepared to go after and deal with anyone caught, within the ambits of the law.

The PPRO said the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, had directed Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Heads of Tactical Units to monitor the activities of cultists.

He added that the CP also directed that patrols should be intensified across the state, while he reiterated the command’s zero tolerance for cultism and other social vices in Lagos State.

“The Commissioner of Police, therefore, appeals to the general public, especially parents and guardians, to monitor and discourage their children and wards from engaging in any unlawful grouping,” he said.

Renewed cult clashes in Eket, Akwa Ibom, has claimed the lives of three persons.

A source in Eket, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN on Wednesday that the incident occurred on June 21 at a popularly area called Idung Afianwe in Eket.

He said the killing of the trio resulted from a fight between two rival cult groups – Axe Confraternity and Klans over a girl at a popular spot at Afaha Ukwa Street, Eket.

The source, who claims to be a member of one of the cult groups said: “the fracas started on Monday, June 21 and we lost a vibrant young man.

“We all know the club house at Afaha Uqua, where they sell all sorts of hard and contraband drugs and where those loose girls hang around.

“All the cult wars in Eket starts from there and it’s high time government shuts the place to stop all this cult wars in Eket.’’

According to him, one Klans cult member and two Axe cult members have so far been killed in the renewed cult war.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Akwa Ibom, SP Odiko Macdon, he said that the Command had not received any report on the incident.

“I have not received any report on the incident. However, we shall investigate and get back to you.

“We will get the needed contacts, but I can’t talk now,’’ Macdon said.

An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Friday remanded three men – Oluwatobiloba Ikuologbon, Faruq Muibi and Joseph Joshua – for allegedly belonging to a secret cult.

The Magistrate, Mrs O.O. Fajana, who did not take the pleas of the defendants, ordered that they should be kept at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, Lagos.

She directed that the case file should be sent to the state director of public prosecutions for advice.

Falana adjourned the case until July 19 for mention.

Ikuologbon, 25; Muibi, 21, and Joshua, 23, are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and unlawful assembly.

The prosecutor, Insp. Kenrich Nomayo, had told the court that the defendants committed the offences with others still at large on May 8 at Iponri, Lagos.

Nomayo said that the defendants belonged and managed an unlawful society known as ‘Eiye Confraternity, in contravention of Section 2 (3) (a)(b)(d)(e) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015.

Suspected cult members, on Thursday morning allegedly killed a barber and macheted one of his customers at Oke-Ijetu area of Osogbo in Osun.

The late barber, simply identified as Shogo, was attacked in his shop at about 10.00 a.m by six armed men.

A source told NAN that the attackers, on sighting their target, inflicted several machete cuts on him, before hitting his head with a big stone.

The source said the assailants also attacked a customer who went to the shop for a hair cut, inflicting several machete cuts on him, while trying to flee when he saw them.

NAN learnt that a co-barber with Shogo in the shop, however, escaped unhurt.
A source close to the wounded customer told NAN that the six young men, armed with cutlasses, arrived the barber’s shop on three motorcycles.

He said that the wounded customer was attacked by the assailants as he ran out of the shop after seeing them.

“Eventually, the cultists caught up with him and inflicted machete cuts on him.

“The second barber managed to run out of the salon and escaped the attack, but Shogo, who was their target, was caught, macheted and later killed,” he said.

The source said that the wounded customer was receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

He said that the killed barber was said to have relocated to Osogbo from Ilesa about three months ago, and the assailants might have come from Ilesa.

When contacted, the Osun Police Spokesperson, SP Yemi Opalola, confirmed the incident, saying that the body of the deceased barber had been taken to the morgue.

Opalola said police were, however, on the trail of the assailants.
He said that they would soon be caught and brought to justice.

The Police Command in Enugu State has arrested 16 suspectS, one female inclusive, for cultism and unlawful possession of firearms within two weeks.

The command also recovered two cut-to-size locally-made gun, one locally-made pistol, two live cartridges, six mobile phones, powdery substance suspected to be heroin and weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Enugu.

Ndukwe said that the feat was achieved by joint operations carried out by police operatives attached to 9th Mile Police Division, Anti-Cult Unit and personnel of the Nigerian Army, 82 Division in Enugu.

He said that the joint operation took place between April 19 and May 4, within a span of three council areas in the state.

“They included: Cornelius Uche, 31; Ifeanyi Umeneze, 22; Chijioke Anachuna, 34; Chibuzor Umeayo, 28; Chinedu Okeke, 23; Ozinachi Obadike, 22; Ifeanyi Nwagbo, 27; Chigozie Okeke, 18, and Chikamso Odinwankpa, 18; were all arrested.

“They were arrested on May 4 within Ezeagu Local Government Area following their alleged involvement in bloody cult clashes.

“Others included: Ozor Chidubem, 22; Amina Inalegwu (female), 18; Benard Bright, 20; Ugwu Chidera, 21; Ani Chukwuebuka, 23, and Onoh Obumneme, 20, who were all arrested on April 19 at about 3:30 a.m.

“They were arrested along Enugu-Makurdi Expressway, 9th Mile, Udi L.G.A. on their way to plan and perfect a heinous cult activity, as preliminary investigation reveals.

“Another of the suspect, one Uchenna Aniagozie, 28, was arrested on April 28 for his alleged involvement in a deadly cult clash sometimes in January 2021.

“Preliminary investigation show that they all confessed to being members of Vikings Confraternity,’’ he said.

The police spokesman said that the suspects would be prosecuted accordingly once ongoing investigations into their nefarious activities are concluded.

“To this end, residents of the state have been called upon to remain law-abiding, vigilant and quickly report suspected criminals and their activities to the nearest police station.

“Residents can call the Command’s emergency hotlines on: 08032003702, 08075390883, 08086671202 or 08098880172,’’ he added.

The Police in Akwa Ibom have confirmed the death of eight people in a supremacy cult clash in Esit, Eket Local Government Area of the state.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Macdon Odiko confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Esit Eket.

Odibo said that the report got to him last week.

He said that the Police was taking steps to ensure that they maintained law and order in council headquarters and its environs.

Two rival cult groups – Vikings Confraternity and Black Axe – had engaged in a clash of supremacy.

A source, who pleaded anonymity, told the NAN in Esit Eket that the clash started at a friend’s night programme when some boys accosted a Vikings carrying bag in his hands at midnight at Etebi in Esit Eket.

According to the source, the Black Axe group searched the bag and discovered that it contained locally made pistols which they seized.

The source said that the Vikings boy left in anger to meet his group and they re-enforced to the friend’s night programme at about 3.00 a.m. and killed one person from Black Axe at Etebia where the fracas started.

It was gathered that four members of Vikings and four from Black Axe were been killed in the clash that ensued thereafter.

Two houses were also burnt, including the family house of the leader of the Legislative Council in Esit Eket.

NAN reports that some young men in Esit Eket had deserted their homes to other local government areas for safety.

Odiko remarked that the Police were doing their bests to restore peace and order in the community.

“The Police will not tolerate any act that will lead to the breakdown of law and order in the state,’’ he said.

He warned perpetrators of such act to desist from such act or that they would face the wrath of the law.

“We are on the trail of those who are breaching the law and soon the full wrath of the law will catch up with them.’’

No fewer than three suspected male cultists were killed when two rival cult gangs clashed at the densely populated Diobu area in Port Harcourt.

Two of the victims were members of the dreaded Icelanders gang, while the other deceased cultist belonged to Deygbam.

The attacks which lasted for several minutes, saw residents scampering for safety, with shops closed, while motorists deserted the area.

Cult clashes has been a regular occurrence between the two warring gangs seeking supremacy and control of the area.

Confirming the incident, Spokesman of the Police Command in Rivers, SP Nnamdi Omoni, told NAN in Port Harcourt on Friday that normalcy had returned to the area.

“I confirm that there was clash between two rival cult groups on Thursday at about 3 p.m., where the gunmen shot sporadically at the Railway axis of Diobu.

“Shortly after receiving distress call, officers from the Diobu Police Division mobilised massively to the scene, to restore law and order.

“Unfortunately at the time our men arrived the scene, the cultists had taken to flight.

“However, our operatives arrested one of the cultist alive, while three lifeless bodies which had multiple gunshot wounds were found at the scene,” he said.

Omoni said the suspected cultist, Ejike Paul, 36, was currently held in one of the command’s holding facilities, while investigation is ongoing.

“Calm has returned to the area with increased patrols and close monitoring of the area and the entire metropolis.

“So, residents should go about their lawful activities without fear of molestation, as the Commissioner of Police, CP Eboka Friday has vowed to deal decisively with criminal elements,” he added.

The Police have confirmed the arrest of 1o suspects over alleged complicity in a rival cult clash in Ikere Ekiti, Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti.

ASP Sunday Abutu, the Police Public Relations Officer, who confirmed the incident to newsmen in Ado Ekiti, said the clash occurred on Saturday night and the early hours of Sunday.

‘I can confirm to you that 10 suspects have been arrested in connection with the bloody cult clash. The clash was caused by rivalry and show of strength,” he said.

The police spokesperson also confirmed that six persons lost their lives in the clash, adding that their corpses have been deposited in the morgue.

“We have begun serious operations there by combined forces of the men of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Amotekun Corps and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

“Those arrested are in our custody and by the time we conclude our investigations, they will be charged to court accordingly.”

NAN reports that the police have deployed more officers and had also increased surveillance on the town by conducting stop and search on vehicles and individuals coming in and out of the town.