Emmanuel Bello
The Edo State Police Command has arrested 27 suspected members of the Neo Black Axe Movement of Nigeria (A.K.A Black Axe), during a coordinated operation at Urohi Village, Esan West Local Government Area of the State.
A statement by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, states that the operation, which took place last Saturday, at about 10 o’clock in the morning, followed credible intelligence that the suspected cult group had converged in the area, for initiation.
The Divisional Police Officer, Ekpoma Division, SP Nelson Igbinoba, was swiftly deployed to lead a combined team of Police tactical operatives, local vigilantes, and hunters to the location, which was about 18 kilometeres from Ekpoma.
The statement observes that during the attempt to arrest the suspects, one of the cultists opened fire on the Police and in a fierce gun duel, the suspect was neutralised in the ensuing exchange.
Items recovered from the 27 suspects arrested include:
• One locally made shotgun
• One live cartridge
• One battle axe
• One knife and
• One Toyota Camry with registration number AUC 377 LU.
Other items are
• One Toyota Camry with registration number RBC 867 JJ
• One Lexus RX Jeep without registration number
- 51 cell phones of different make
- 15 Pairs of different colors of Timberland boots and
- several Sling bags all containing substance suspected to be Indian hemp
In the meantime, the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Monday Agbonika, has ordered for their immediate transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for thorough investigation and onward prosecution.
CP Agbonika reassured members of the public of the Command’s commitment to combating cultism and all forms of criminality across the State.
He urged residents to continue to support the Police with timely and credible information.
