The police in Enugu State say they have arrested seven male suspects over alleged armed robbery and cultism in the state.
The police spokesperson in the state, Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
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Mr Ndukwe, a superintendent of police, said the seven suspects were arrested in separate operations by security operatives in June.
The operations
Mr Ndukwe said that, between 15 and 20 June, a combined team of operatives from the SWAT and Octopus Tactical Squads of the police arrested a 39-year-old suspect, Chukwunonso Iloh.
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He said the suspect was arrested within the period when the combined security operatives raided and identified black spots in Nkanu West and Enugu North Local Government Areas of the state.
A locally fabricated Beretta-like pistol, a cut-to-size gun and two abandoned live cartridges were recovered from the suspects, according to the police.
The spokesperson said operatives of the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad of the police arrested a 36-year-old male suspect, Obumneke Ugwualor in a separate operation on 17 June.
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He said the arrest followed the confessional statement of another male suspect, Uchenna Onah, who had earlier been arrested in connection with a case of armed robbery and cultism.
A locally made Beretta-like pistol, two double-barrel and one single-barrel pistols, the chamber of an English-made double-barrel gun, and a set of tools used for firearm repairs were recovered during the operation, the police said.
“The suspects confessed to being members of the Black Axe Confraternity and admitted to using the firearms for criminal activities.
“Onah Uchenna further confessed to owning the repair tools and to specialising in the maintenance of firearms,” he said.
Mr Ndukwe said the operatives arrested a 25-year-old suspect, John Yusuf, at the Ninth Area of Enugu at about midday on 21 June.
“His arrest followed the confessional statements of three earlier-arrested suspects, namely: Ebube Victor, 22; Kenechukwu Chiegwu, 23; and Tochukwu Kingsley Nwodo, 26,” he said.
“They all confessed to being members of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity and admitted to using the firearm in the commission of various crimes.”
The spokesperson said, “All suspects will be arraigned in court upon conclusion of investigations.”
He said the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Bitrus Giwa, commended the operatives for the success of the operation and urged them to remain resolute in the fight against crime.
Mr Giwa reiterated the police’s resolve to combat crimes across the state.
The commissioner urged residents to remain law-abiding, vigilant, and support the police with information that can aid the fight against criminality.
Prohibited in Nigeria
Cultism, also known as secret societies, is outlawed in Nigeria.
In Enugu State, for instance, cultism is outlawed in Section 495(a) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 30, Vol.. II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria 2004.
It is outlawed in Section 8 of the Public Order (Prohibition of Secret Cults and their activities) Law No. 17 of Enugu State of Nigeria 2009.
The law prohibits the formation and operation of secret cults and any activities associated with them.
Like cultism, armed robbery is outlawed in the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) ACT 2004.
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The Act prescribes a minimum of 21 years’ imprisonment for offenders upon conviction.
The offenders face a maximum death penalty upon conviction.
Several persons have been convicted in Nigeria for offences of cultism and robbery across Nigeria.
In July 2021, a Magistrate Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, sentenced a student of Kogi State Polytechnic, Shehu Mohammed, to eight years’ imprisonment for illegal possession of a firearm and cultism.
An Abeokuta High Court, in 2021, sentenced two ex-convicts to death by hanging for conspiracy and armed robbery.
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