Suspect, Who Has Been A Cultist Since 1992 Arrested By Police In Benin

Arrested Suspect Claimed To Have Joined The Cult Since 1992

Mr Rasheed Olatunde, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, in charge of zone 5, Benin, on Tuesday stated that a suspected cultist, Wilson Iriajen has been arrested by the police in Benin, Edo.

Olatunde, while speaking with newsmen disclosed the arrest, he said the arrest is in line with the directive of Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector-General of Police, to mop up illegal arms in the country.

He revealed that the arrest was made possible as a result of credible intelligence, acted on by operatives of the zone on July 24 in Benin.

The Assistant IGP, said during interrogation, the suspect confessed being a member of the Eiye confraternity.

He had claimed to have joined the cult back in 1992 when he was a student at Ambrose Ali University, Epkoma, Edo, but stated that he had renounced his membership.

“I inherited the barrel from my father and it’s for my personal protection, because the country is rough.

“I am not a thief; I do business of selling and buying of guns for seven years. I am not married, but I have a son,’ he said.

Emeka Ihenacho, the Public Relations Officer of the zone, said items recovered from the suspect included: one double barrel gun No. MBDT 5870 and English Pump action guns No. T587013-0216 and No. P630882.

Others are; Apple laptop, three International passports and wrapped substance suspected to be Indian hemp.

Ihenacho said the police was doing its best to clean up Benin City and also fish out bad eggs.

The spokesman said investigation into the matter was ongoing and the suspect would be charged to court as soon as the investigation was concluded.

He reminded members of the public that security was a collective responsibility of all citizens and enjoined them to continue to support the police.

“Through the provision of useful information, we can help in the detection and arrest of criminals,” he said.