Enugu Police Arrest 13 Suspected Cultists, Robbers in Major Crackdown, Recover Arms and Stolen Vehicles

The Enugu State Police Command has arrested 13 suspects linked to cultism, armed robbery, and illegal possession of firearms following a series of coordinated, intelligence-driven operations across Enugu State and Port Harcourt.

The raids, carried out by the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad, also led to the recovery of firearms, suspected stolen vehicles, cash, and other incriminating items.

In a statement issued on Friday, the command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed that the operatives recovered a cut-to-size double-barreled gun, a red Toyota Camry XLE with registration number YEN 221 AG, an ash-colored Kia Soul with registration number PHC 845 AE, and a Spark-L electronic gas lighter initially mistaken for a firearm. Also recovered were ₦30,000 in cash, a vehicle key, a mobile phone worth ₦17,000, and a bank ATM card.

Those apprehended include Ebuka Odinko (35), Chiemerie Amano (25), Onyebuchi Onyekwere (24), Udofia Richard (43), Richard Arinzechukwu Nwaomu (32), Stephen Chidiebere (42), Arinze Udeh (30), Onuigbo Kingsley (49), and Ifeanyi Ede (30), among others.

Preliminary investigations link many of them to cult groups such as the Vikings Confraternity and the Black Axe Confraternity.

On July 30, operatives acting on a confession by a 35-year-old suspect identified as Ekene Akpata (alias Odumodu), raided a location in Oyofo-Oghe, Ezeagu Local Government Area. There, they arrested Odinko, Amano, and Onyekwere, who were identified as members of the Vikings Confraternity involved in multiple armed robbery operations.

Between July 23 and 28, two more suspects, Udofia Richard and Richard Arinzechukwu Nwaomu, were apprehended during a follow-up operation in Port Harcourt based on leads from earlier arrested individuals. The police recovered the two aforementioned vehicles during this operation.

Earlier, on July 21, operatives arrested three suspects Stephen Chidiebere (alias Shaggy), Arinze Udeh (alias Anonymous), and Onuigbo Kingsley in Umuasi Ngwo, Udi LGA. Their arrests followed that of Ikemefuna Ani (alias Majority), a suspect already in custody for conspiracy, armed robbery, and cultism. Investigators say all are linked to the Black Axe Confraternity.

On July 15, in another coordinated effort, police operatives from the Ogui Division, in collaboration with the local Neighbourhood Watch Group, arrested Ifeanyi Ede, 30, for robbing a taxi driver using a pistol-like Spark-L electronic gas lighter. Ede and an accomplice had boarded the taxi in Independence Layout and used the fake weapon to steal ₦30,000, a mobile phone, an ATM card, and a vehicle key. Ede was arrested while his accomplice fled the scene.

Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, commended the swift and coordinated actions of the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad. He emphasized the command’s determination to rid Enugu State of violent crime and reaffirmed that all suspects will be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.