Soldiers Arrest Suspected Cultists In Enugu

Soldiers of the 82 Division of the Nigeria Army, Enugu Anti Kidnapping Unit have arrested 19 suspected Cult members belonging to six different Cult Groups at the Enugu state University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Agbani, in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu state.

Briefing newsmen Friday at the Headquarters of the 82 Division, Enugu, the Assistant Director Public Relations, 82 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, disclosed that the suspected cult members were arrested in their various hideouts by troops attached to the Division Garrison Anti kidnapping unit.

According to him, a patrol team of  the 103 Battalion while on routine patrol around Agbani Nkanu West local government Area , heard sporadic gun shots at ESUT, about 11:30 hrs. on July 4, 2011, and moved to the university, where they  arrested one of the perpetrators of the crime, with five rounds of 9mm ammunition.

Consequently, he said that the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 82 Division, Major- General Sarkin Yaki Bello, directed that a thorough investigation be carried out on the matter, adding that in line with the GOC’s order , preliminary investigation into the case was conducted by the Division’s intelligence group.

This, he went on, led to the arrest of 19 other suspected members of cult groups and recovery of four locally made pistols, 10AA cartridges, 10 telephone hand sets and Video clip where some female students of the school were forced to have illicit affairs with them.

His words: “Majority of them reside or operate in Agbani –Ozalla general area of Enugu state which is a known criminal den harbouring notorious armed robbery gangs and other people engaging in other social vices. It is worthy to note that the cultists have been raping girls, maltreating their colleagues at will and committing all manners of atrocities on campus and at Agbani general area of Enugu city”.

Continuing, Col. Musa, who did not hide his disappointment over the attitude of the student said.  “The issue of cultism in Nigeria remains a potential threat to security. A situation where male students captured, brutalise female students and forced them to rape themselves calls for serious concern from all and sundry. To contain the ugly trend in our educational institutions, concerted efforts should be intensified by the school authorities and the Nigerian Police. The role of parents in checking it needs not to be over- emphasized”, he advised.

He named some of the suspected cult groups to include Virkins, Black Axe Baeger, Buccaneer, 22 Confraternity and Eiye.

Meanwhile, in a brief interview with journalists shortly after they have been paraded, some of the suspects confirmed their participation in the crime, claiming to have joined the confraternity through peer pressure and threats from their colleagues, attributing the whole thing to the handiwork of the devil.