Police arrest 9 suspected cultists in Benue

The police in Benue State have arrested nine people for their alleged involvement in cultism as well as arson in Ojakpama community of Adoka district in Otukpo Local Government Area of the state.

Our correspondent reports that the suspects included eight young men and a woman who were brought to the state police headquarters in Makurdi.

The Commissioner of Police, Wale Abass, said the suspects had in recent times caused unrest in their areas as they burnt perceived enemies’ houses and caused other forms of trouble.

Abass said he had ordered for the suspects’ arrest after another episode of unrest at the weekend and that they were apprehended and brought to his office on Wednesday.

A traditional head of Ojakpama, Obaje Gabriel, said the suspects were cultists who had severally engaged in negative social vices.

“These boys say they must take over the village; they take drugs and do whatever they want. Sometimes, they will be shouting, insulting the elders on the streets and say nobody can do them anything. They burnt five houses between last Saturday and Sunday,” Gabriel said.

Meanwhile, some of the suspects, who spoke to journalists denied the allegations levelled against them.