Police condemn cult-related violence, warn perpetrators in Edo

The police in Edo have condemned the spate of cult-related violence ravaging the state and other parts of the country.

The police also warned perpetrators to desist forthwith or be prepared to face the full wrath of the law.

The Commissioner of police, Edo State CP Johnson Babatunde Kokumo gave the warning yesterday in his office while condemning series of killings and destruction of property in the state by hoodlums.

The police boss who assured a clampdown on the assailants revealed that policemen were among the over 34 casualties reported so far in Edo State.

He advised the public to be vigilant as rivalry cult groups have adopted new strategies of eliminating their targets no matter the time and distance.

According to the CP, the hoodlums now present a business proposal as a bait to lure their targets to their preferred locations to kill and maim.

He cited instances when a cab driver one Sadiq Jimoh, 27 was killed and burnt inside his car after he was booked online to pick up a passenger from Upper Siluko road, Ogida, Benin, last Wednesday.

CP Kokumo further stated that about 9:56 am on Monday, December 7, some gunmen suspected to be cultists approached a shop on 40, Mission road, Benin City, presented themselves as costumers, lured a computer technician identified as David Johnson Obuehi to their hideout where he was seriously tortured as he managed to escaped with injuries.

CP Kokumo said the barbaric, brutal and mindless operations of cult groups nationwide make it difficult for whoever survives their attacks to come out of the trauma as they don’t relent in their manhunt.

He however assured residents of adequate security of lives and property during and after the coming yuletide.

Our correspondent investigation revealed that the nation’s security architecture has changed since gun-toting hoodlums hijacked the #EndSARS protest on Monday, October 19, 2020.

Rampaging hoodlums hid under the protest to unleash carnage on police and Correctional Centres facilities in Benin City.

Prisoners and detainees were set loose while police sophisticated arms and ammunition carted away by the protesters.

The rampaging gangsters in their number, at different times and locations have robbed, maimed or opened fire on their targets, brazenly.

The armed men suspected to be cultists also dared the Nigeria Police Force when they waylaid and rained bullets on an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), in Benin City in the morning of Friday, November 13, 2020.

The officer, ACP Agabi Aboki Godiri is the Area Commander in charge of Benin metro.

He was immediately hospitalized and discharged days after.