The Edo State Security Corps has arrested 14 suspects in connection with a cult-related killing in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.
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The arrest followed last week’s killing of a middle-aged man at Abiodun Motor Park, Jattu Junction, an incident that caused panic as residents, commuters and business owners fled the area after suspected cultists opened fire.
Following the killing, the Chief Security Officer and Principal Security Officer to Governor Monday Okpebholo led other security agencies in a raid on suspected criminal hideouts across Edo North Senatorial District between Wednesday and Friday.
The operation led to the arrest of 14 suspects, while two other suspects, including members of the Edo State Security Corps, are said to be at large.
During the operation, the security team demolished Abiodun Motor Park and the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers park at Jattu Junction.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okpebholo, Patrick Ebojele, the squad also raided Triple J & J Hotel in Aviele, where some suspects were arrested.
The team also carried out operations at Igbira Camp, Warrake Road, Akpekpe and other areas believed to be hideouts of criminal elements disturbing the peace of Edo North.
The suspects arrested at the hotel were said to have been picked up following intelligence reports that the killing of the young man was planned there before the suspects allegedly moved to Jattu Motor Park to carry out the attack.
After the arrests, the hotel was sealed.
The squad later moved to Igbira Camp, where the prime suspect, Anefi Kassim, was said to reside, but he was not found.
According to investigations, Kassim is alleged to be a member of the Juris Confraternity, while Idris Mustapha, who is also at large, is said to be a member of the Edo State Security Corps.
Both suspects have been given 24 hours to report to the Area Command in Auchi.
The squad also directed the Auchi sector commander of the Edo State Security Corps, under whose command the fleeing suspects allegedly operated, to produce them to face justice.
Speaking on the arrests, the spokesperson for the squad, Eribo Ewanta, said Governor Okpebholo had given the team a marching order to restore peace and arrest those behind the killing.
“We have arrested 14 suspects connected to the killing, and they are helping security agencies with useful information that will help in the arrest of all others at large, including the mastermind of the killing,” Ewanta said.
He said the Okpebholo administration would not tolerate criminality in any part of the state.
“Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration will not allow any form of criminality in Edo State, as criminals will no longer be safe operating in the state,” he added.
Ewanta said the parks at Jattu Junction were demolished because they were allegedly being used for unauthorised revenue collection, despite the state government’s ban on such activities.
“The parks at Jattu Junction, where the young man was killed, have been demolished because they are operating and collecting revenue, which has been banned by the Okpebholo-led administration,” he said.
“The governor has banned unauthorised revenue collection across the state, but in this park in Jattu, they are still engaged in illegal revenue collection. The property will be utilised for the benefit of the Edo people, as the governor will bring development here.”
He added that preliminary findings linked the killing to Kassim.
“We are giving the sector commander of ESSC, Auchi, 24 hours to produce Anefi Kassim and Idris Mustapha, who are key suspects in the Auchi killing. Failure to do that, they will be declared wanted,” Ewanta said.
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