By OBINNA UNAEZE

The Police Command in Anambra says it has detained 54 suspects, including 39 males and 15 females over their alleged involvement in cult related activities in the State.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Ikioye Orutugu disclosed this while addressing newsmen on Monday in Awka.

He said that operatives of the command in the late hours of Sunday, raided a black spot at Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, the arrest followed credible intelligence that cultists routinely gathered at the location to perfect plans for their nefarious activities.

“During the operation, 53 suspects including 38 males and 15 females were arrested,” he said.

Orutugu, who was represented by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said that the suspects were currently undergoing screening and profiling.

“Those found culpable after the investigation would be charged to Court, ” he said.

He said that on Sept. 12, Operatives of the Special Anti-Cult Squad (SPACS), Enugwu-Ukwu, while on a manhunt for cultists, arrested a male suspect Chiderah Obochi, (25), at Ifitedunu, along Old Onitsha/Awka Road.

“The suspect, who was on a motorcycle, was searched and some quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp were recovered from him,” he said.

The commissioner said that upon interrogation Obochi confessed to being a drug runner in Umudioka Village, Dunukofia Local Government Area of the state.

He said that the suspect thereafter led the team to the house of Ginika Okeke in Umudioka Village, but the suspect was not at home.

According to Orutugu, 11 bags containing a very large quantity of dried leaves suspected to b be Indian Hemp) were recovered from the house.

He said that the recovered substances would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.

“The Command is also working on credible intelligence to identify and apprehend drug dealers supplying these harmful substances,” he said.

Oturugu expressed deep concern over the increasing cases of moral decay in the state, particularly among the youths within the age bracket of 18 to 26 years.

According to him, in spite of the successes recorded in the past, disturbing trends such as cultism and fake kidnapping incidents continued to surface in Anambra.

He recalled two recent separate cases where boys and girls arranged self kidnap to extort money from their parents.

The police boss condemned the resurgence of cult-related activities, like the recent indiscriminate shooting by suspected cultists on the attendees of a burial ceremony at Ezi-Ogidi – Ogidi, Idemili North LGA.

He said the command had intensified surveillance, patrols, and intelligence-gathering operations aimed at nipping such incidents in the bud.

Orutugu said that the Command has strategised further by adopting both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to tackle crimes in the state.

According to him, the abuse of hard drugs remained a major driving force that emboldens youths to commit heinous crimes in the state.

He reassured the public of the command’s unwavering commitment to restoring sanity, protecting lives and property, and ensuring that the state remained safe for all law-abiding residents. (NAN)