There is uneasy calm in Edo State as repentant cultists in Edo State have called on the inspector-general of police (IGP) to intervene in the operation of its SWAT team. They accused the team ofcolluding with suspected cult leaders in Edo to release suspects from custody.
A former cult leader in Benin City, Amiolemen Ideh, told in journalists they have been informed that two suspects arrested by Edo State Special Security Squad, name withheld and handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution, had been released.
Ideh noted with dismay that they later learned that the case was transferred to Abuja and the suspects released a few days ago.
He further explained that the suspects since returning to Benin, have been terrorising Ayen community, as well as threatening elders and youth leaders who reported them, which led to their arrest, while also colluding with IGP’s SWAT team to arrest law abiding citizens.
According to Comrade Ideh, “these people according to the DPP here in Edo said they had a case to answer before they were taken to Abuja. Since their release, these people have unleashed terror in the community, shooting sporadically and threatening people. As this is happening, other innocent youths have been arrested by the SWAT team and taken to Abuja.
“We are using this medium to beg the Inspector-General of Police, to call the boss of the SWAT team, to release the innocent persons that are under his custody, and the IG should also intervene, so that these two persons can be brought to book because they have a case to answer in Edo State here, and more so, so as not to thwart our efforts in trying to tackle cultism in Edo.”
Also speaking on the development, the secretary, Elders Council of Ayen Community, explained that “these boys have been terrorizing us since 2013. They have been using cult boys and dangerous weapons to terrorize us. Just two months ago here, they were arrested in the community with guns and handed over to the police, and we had peace.
“Only for us to hear that they were transferred to Abuja and they have been released. They are back now, shooting sporadically and threatening people. Even the police we hear that are from Abuja came to arrest innocent people in the community, and they have not been released.
“We are calling on the Oba of Benin and the Governor to intervene in this matter because we want peace, and we don’t want cultists among us.”
