Police foil cult initiation, arrest many suspects in Rivers forest

Security operatives person arrested 13 suspected cultists during an initiation ceremonial successful Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The suspects were apprehended successful a wood betwixt Alode and Onne successful the aboriginal hours of Sunday.

An eyewitness, identified arsenic Lene, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, successful Port Harcourt connected Monday that astir 100 young men had gathered astatine the determination for the initiation ritual.

He said portion the initiation workout was ongoing, constabulary operatives stormed the gathering.

“On sighting the attack of information operatives, galore of the cultists fled deeper into the forest.

“However, implicit 13 of them were apprehended astatine the scene, portion others escaped,” helium said.

Lene identified the radical arsenic members of the Aiye Confraternity, popularly known arsenic Black Axe.

He said the initiation of caller recruits was often conducted successful the wood to fortify territorial power successful the section authorities area.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the Police Command successful Rivers, ASP Blessing Agabe, confirmed the apprehension of the suspects.

“Yes, I tin corroborate the arrests. Investigation has commenced,” she said.

Agabe, however, did not supply furth...