Cultists invade school in Edo, injure students

Many students on Tuesday sustained injuries when suspected cultists invaded the Oba Akenzua Secondary school and  Ihogbe College with knives and cutlasses.

It was gathered that the development disrupted academic activities of the schools located adjacent each other on the ICE road, off Wire Road as teachers and students scampered for safety.

It further was gathered that the suspected cultists were heading towards their target in the area when some students who are members of a rival cult group started throwing stones at them.

It was also learnt that angered by the development, the suspected cultists stormed the school and started inflicting injuries on any student on sight with knives and cutlasses.

However, another source said, a boy who was beaten by a student of Akenzua secondary school during a fight invaded the school with his cult group, injuring many students.

It was gathered that one of the students who was seriously injured was rushed to the hospital.

Our reporter who visited the school observed heavy security presence at the area.

Two of the suspected cultists that were arrested by the police were seen crying, saying that they were innocent.

Meanwhile, the State Commissioner for Education, Emmanuel Agbale, said no student was killed in the incident.

The commissioner noted that the students of both schools have always been engaged in fighting, assuring that security would be beefed up in the area while plans were underway to merge the schools.

He however said the schools would not be shut down due to the attack.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Chidi Nwanbuzor, confirmed the incident, saying two students were injured while two of the cultists were arrested.

“Yes, there was a cult fight between two different cult groups and the fight took place in Akenzua Secondary School premises where two students were injured with machete cuts by the cultists.

“It was reported that one of the cultists was beaten by a student of Akenzua secondary school during a fight, as a result, members of his cult invaded the school (Akenzua) with cutlasses and started fighting the school,” he said.

He said the situation has been brought under control and that two of the cultists were arrested, adding that investigation is currently ongoing at the Oba Market Divisional Police Station.