The Taraba State Police Command has paraded seven male youths it
arrested for cult membership and illegal possession of fire arms.
The
youths were identified as Ochefu Peter Igoche ( 22), Okoye Emeka (19),
Jonathan Allani (22), Ebuke Bonaventure (20), Julius Atsoga (24), Ojo
Adeola Victor (21), and Daniel Oga (20).
The suspected cult
members, who are students of the Kwararafa University and the Federal
University both situated in Wukari, were arrested early hours on Friday
while carrying out initiation on some new members.
The State
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Joseph Kwaji, said the arrest
was made possible by the members of the vigilante group who drew the
attention of the police to a gunshot in a thick forest opposite the
Federal Government College in Wukari.
“On receipt of the
information, both the police and the vigilante group swung into action
by mobilizing and storming the areas and met a group of cult members,
popularly known as Black Axe Confraternity initiating new members while
the initiation was going on,” Kwaji said.
“The cultists were
singing and shouting” the action which made it easy for the police and
the vigilantes to “Identified the location of the cultist that led to
their arrest,” he added.
He said one locally made revolver
pistol, four round of 9mm life ammunition, one empty shell, a black
beret with an occultist crest, pieces of razor blades and a bucket
containing blood were recovered from them
He said the case was under investigation would be taken to court for prosecution as soon as investigations were concluded”.
The
PPRO warned those involved in cultist activities in the state to as a
matter of urgency desist from such acts as the police would not hesitate
to prosecute them.
He equally enjoined members of the public to
assist the police with useful information that could lead to the arrest
of cult members and other criminals in the state.
