Edo State Police Command on Friday said it has arrested a 33-year-old Bello Salami, suspected to be a member of Maphite Confraternity, over his connection with the killing of three vigilante members in Edo State.
The Command also said 15 other suspects were arrested during raids at different criminal hideouts, while firearms and ammunition were recovered in the process.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, Moses Yamu, revealed on Friday, that the arrests were made when police combed criminal hideouts, as well as during house-to-house searches in different parts of the state.
Yamu said Salami was arrested at the Benin Airport while trying to flee the state on June 28.
“One Bello Salami (33 years), member of the Maphite Confraternity who was fingered in the recent killing of three vigilante members along Wire Road in Benin-City was arrested. The suspect, a confessed Maphite was arrested on 28/06/2025 at about 10:00hrs at the Benin airport, while attempting to flee the State,” the PPRO said.
He added that in another development, operatives of the Aduwawa Division arrested the duo of Abdulahi Eriamiator (18 years) and Moses Humphrey (25 years) both members of the Vikings Confraternity, on 26th June 2025 at about 3pm, while acting on credible Intelligence.
“On the same date at about 18:00hrs, operatives of the South Ibie Division arrested one Ahmed Hakeem (23 years) a member of the Aye Confraternity.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of Williams Kayode (25 years), David Sylvester (21 years), Oshoke Itepu (22 years), Emmanuel Monday (27 years) and Daniel Ehichioya (21 years) all residents of South Ibie in Etsako West Local Government, as well as the recovery of one shotgun, four live cartridges, two axes, one cutlass, a bunker of “ice” an illicit drug in their possession. All of them have confessed to being members of the Aye Confraternity,” Yamu said.
Similarly, the PPRO said operatives of Irrua Division led by the DPO, acting on actionable intelligence, arrested a 29-year-old Ogbe Osaghele of Ebhoakhuale-Ekpoma at Idumebo-Irrua with a cut-to-size shotgun and two live cartridges.
He added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend one Odion Osaghele and two others now at large, who are also members of the Aye Confraternity.
The Edo police spokesman added that on June 28, operatives of Ekpoma Area Command tracked and arrested one Itua Odion (22 years) at a hotel in Ekpoma, through credible information.
“Upon immediate search, one fabricated pistol with two live cartridges was recovered. The suspect confessed to being the Esan Area Zonal Leader of the Neo Black Movement (NBM) also known as Black Axe Confraternity,” the PPRO said.
“While on 29/06/2025 at about 15:00hrs, operatives of the Jattu Division raided a flash point along Ibie Road and arrested one Hamza Umoru (27 years) of Ikabigbo Community,” the statement said.
Yamu also disclosed that the suspects have confessed to being members of the Vikings Confraternity.
In the same vein, operatives of the Auchi Division intercepted and arrested Emmanuel Udeh, 27 years; Kalifa Kabir, 24 years, and Ashiru Ahmed, 22 years, at various locations in Auchi in possession of a Jojef Magnum pump action with breech number 23YT0083.
Police said the trio disguised as iron scraps scavengers with the firearm concealed.
“Lastly, on 01/07/2025 at about 01:30hrs, the home of one Jerry Orobor (50 years) at No 6 Ewinmandowan Street, off Major Road in Amagba Community, was raided based on credible information.
“Upon search of his house and premises, one automatic double barrel shotgun with 10 live cartridges and one fez cap bearing Aye Confraternity logo were recovered from him. The suspect has been taken into custody for further investigation.”
The PPRO said that all suspects would be arraigned before the court as soon as investigations were concluded.
Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Monday Agbonika reassured the public of the Command’s commitment in the sustained fight against cultism.
He called on the people of Edo State to go about their lawful businesses and never hesitate to report any suspicious activities around them to the Police.
