FCT Police Command Nabs 17 Alleged Cultists

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command said at the weekend it arrested 17 suspected cultists in Gwagwalada, Gwagwa, Lugbe and Kuruduma.

The command, in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mariam Yusuf, said the arrest was in furtherance of its effort to rid the nation’s capital of criminal elements.

It said the suspects were arrested by police operatives from the command’s anti-cultism unit during the coordinated raids and patrols conducted last week.

The suspects are: Peter Ajari, 22; Jacob Terkaa, 27, Isiaka Abdulmalik, 19; Akadiri Ay, 23; Nnamdi George, 23; Tony Enejo, 23; Abioze Samuel Cole, 35 and Samuel Mbachongu, 29.

Others include Michael Malachi, 36; Mbani Chukwuebuka, 34; Monday Orgar, 24; Onyeaka Chinonye, 33; Christian Chidebere, 42; Chukwuebuka Onijbo, 24; Okife Zion, 23; Umoh Faith, 22 and Emmanuel Obinna, 31.

Exhibits recovered from the suspects include three locally made pistols, two rounds of live ammunitions, four cartridges, two knives chain, one axe, a cutlass, wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and charms.

The statement said “the suspects confessed to membership of Vikings and Aro Baga confraternities terrorising these areas”.

The command said all the suspects would be arraigned in court upon conclusion of investigation