At least 20 suspected cultists including a minor were paraded yesterday by the Anambra State Special Anti-Cult Squad at the Unit headquarters, Enugwu-Ukwu in Njikoka Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects were arrested from various locations and dangerous items recovered from them include three pump action gun, for locally made short gun, six axes and three inscribed berets, among others.
Some of the suspects, Ebuka Eloka, 17 years old carpenter, who hails from Obosi said that he was forced to join Junior Vikings Confraternity, JVC, in 2017.
“I joined cult because of the mass beaten they always give me whenever they sighted me, even along the road. So I decided that if I can’t beat them, then, I should join them.”
Also, an underage member of ‘White Danger Cult’, Metu Echezona, 16 years old from Igboukwu, said he was initiated into the group early this year.
Echezona, SS1 student of Community Boys Secondary School, Igboukwu, told Nigerian Pilot that he usually went to school with his father’s big automatic gun in order to frighten his fellow students in the school.
According to him, “I usually go to school with my father’s gun to chance people because they lured me into this cult against my wish. But due to the high level of intimidation by the senior cultists in my school, I decided to create fear to them by having what they may found difficult to have.”
Addressing journalists, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed, said that not less than 80 suspected cultists have been arrested since the beginning of September.
“Out of these 80 suspects, 40 have been charged to court, five discharged, five are minors and 20 are presently under investigation.
“We appeal to parents to always monitor their children and wards and know the peer group they associate with. The Command will not relent in its effort to nail all criminal elements in the state unless they quit from their evil ways.”
