Abia State Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has reportedly arrested suspected members of a secret cult group operating in Umuahia, the State capital and its environs.

Our reporter reports that cultism and related crimes have been on the increase in the State especially in Aba and Umuahia where under-aged children were reportedly recruited into the group in collaboration with students from the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State Polytechnic among other higher institutions in the state.

A release by the Command’s Spokesman, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna has it that the suspected cultists were arrested by men of the Commissioner of Police’s Crack Squad.

According to Ogbonna, the squad, acting on a tip-off while on Operation Puff Adder arrested twenty-two suspected members of NEO Black Movement of Africa aka AYIES in a bush at Umuhutte Ahiaeke Ibeku in Umuahia North.

Ogbonna said that the suspects consisted of University under-graduates, Secondary School leavers/dropouts and artisans.

He further disclosed that the suspects have confessed that they were carrying out the initiation of their new members into the cult group.

Items recovered from them during an arrest are Four (4) Red candles, 24 white Candles, 2 native kola-nuts, some bitter-kola nuts, half cut calabash, Samba drum and a ten litter gallon containing mixed substances that resemble blood.

“Then early in the morning while combing the scene, 6 expended cartridges and a damaged locally made short gun were recovered. Suspects are giving a lead that would aid in the arrest of their fleeing member, part of the release read. (The Nation)