Fifteen suspected cultists, 15 women and armed robbers were yesterday paraded by the Anambra State Police Command at its headquarters in Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects were arrested in various parts of the state such as Aroma in Awka, Enugwu Agidi and Oyea Agu Abagana in Njikoka Njikoka Local Government Area, Nkpor in Idemili North LGA, Iyiowa Odekpe in Ogbaru LGA, Agulezechukwu in Aguata LGA, and Abakaliki in Ebonyi State.

According to the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Ali Okechukwu, the suspected cultists belong to dangerous groups such as Baggers Confraternity, which has been terrorising parts of Nkpor, Obosi and Onitsha, and Vicking Confraternity, which has become popular in many institutions of learning in the state, while the suspected armed robbers were operating from the neighboring states.

Items recovered from the suspects include various types of locally made pistols, live cartridges, bags of Indian hemp, initiation materials such as cutlasses, axe, pieces of women wears valued at N500,000, a Keke NAPEP, two motorcycles, GSM handsets of various types and some cash.

The PPRO said that many of the cultists were arrested while carrying out initiation of new members, while the robbers were arrested while attempting to dispose their stolen vehicles snatched at gun points.

Okechukwu urged parents to ensure always monitor the movement of their wards to avoid their getting involved with criminal gangs and activities.

•Photo by Pamela Eboh shows the suspects.