The police command in Imo state have paraded 35 suspected cultists and armed robbers who were apprehended between June 12 and June 14, 2015, by officers of the command.
Obindigbo gathered that the suspected cultist numbering 25 and 10 armed robbers, were nabbed in Owerri and Orlu areas of the state following renewed efforts by the command to rid the state of all criminal activities.
DSP Andrew Enwerem, the command’s spokesman, who addressed newsmen in Owerri, said 25 Black Axe cultists were arrested when members of the group arrived the state from parts of the country to hold their national conference/ initiation of new members in a bush around the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO, area.
Enwerem, who represented the state’s commissioner of police, CP Austin Evbakhavbokun at the presentation, said one locally made cut-to-size gun, one live cartridge, expended cartridges and items suspected to be charms used by the group for initiation were found on the cultists.
The spokesman said armed robbers in Orlu area and its environs were arrested on June 12 and June 13. He said the gang had on April 24, robbed one Igbozulike Investment of No. 125/126 International Market, Orlu carting away N841,000.
Enwerem also said the robbers robbed a recharge card dealer and tiles dealer both of Umuna Otlu of N900,000 and recharge cards worth over N300,000.
Police found one locally-made short gun, expended cartridges, two single barrel guns and three motorcycles on the robbers. He revealed that the cultists and robbers were arrested after a tip-off.
Some of the arrested criminals are; Emeka Chukwu 29, Alias Henry 22, Kingsley Chijioke 25, Chidera Isdore 25 and Ikechukwu Innocent.