Anambra Police arrest 22 teenage cultists

The Anti-Cultist Squad of the Anambra state police command has arrested 22 cult teenagers in the state during their initiation ceremony.

The Commander of the squad, Mr. Christopher Bassey, who stated this during an interview with newsmen, said the teenagers were arrested at Ajalli, Orumba North local government area of the state during their initiation.

He said his men burst into the initiation ground two weeks ago and arrested them but unfortunately the kingpins who were initiating them into the fraternity, Junior Vikings Club (JVC) escaped.

He said the suspects who came from outside the state, escaped with their locally made pistols but the squard recovered cutlasses, axes, and regalia among others.

Bassey appealed to the public to give the Squad necessary information that will lead to the arrest of these cultists.

He lamented the spate of cultism in the society, especially among teenagers, saying that his men arrest them on daily basis.

The Commander attributed the increase in the activities of cultists to the coming Governorship election in the state but assured that they were equal to the task.

Bassey however assured that in handling the suspects, they do not torture them in the process of interrogation, rather he painstakingly personally interview those arrested to find out their level of involvement and charge to court those who have overwhelm evidence against them and counsel under aged ones.

He said their efforts to rout cultism in various areas and communities in the state have started producing results as communities are now keying into campaign against cultism and all forms of vices.

Recently, the police officer said, the Ogidi community youths in Idemili North local government area of the state matched around the town against cultism.

Ajalli community, he said, has joined in the campaign against cultism, an exercise, he said, his unit was involved. Bassey said he expects more communities in the State to join and these were as a result of their commitment to fight cultism and crime in the State to a halt.

Meanwhile, a coalition of civil society groups in Nigeria has commended the Commander for the innovation and civilised way of handling the issue of cultism in the State.

The group led by Chidi Chielo, said they have gone round the state to find out about the activities of the unit and people confirmed that Bassey brought innovation to the unit.