Suspected cultists paraded in Edo over attack on church

Five suspected cultists have been paraded by the Edo State Police Command in connection with an alleged attack on a Pentecostal church in Igueben Local Government Area of the state during its New Year crossover service.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Osifo Abiodun, while parading the suspects at the command’s headquarters in Benin, identified them as Ehis Ayoyo, 20; Odion Orukpe, 23; Godday Otoide, 30; Itama Lucky, 20 and Emma Adodo, 28.

The incident was said to have occurred in Ebele community on December 31, 2015.

It was gathered that one of the suspects had walked into the church, holding a bottle of alcohol and a lit cigarette in his mouth.

He was, however, said to have been intercepted and advised to leave by one of the church members, who told him that it was not appropriate to attend the religious ceremony with the objects.

But an argument reportedly ensued when the suspect insisted on staying before he was allegedly forced out.

According to a source, some youths suspected to have been invited as reinforcement by the suspect suddenly stormed the church premises and ordered the presiding pastor out of the podium, a development that brought the service to an abrupt end.

Overwhelmed by what seemed unprecedented, the congregation was said to have fled for safety in the middle of the night for fear of being injured as the suspected cultists allegedly destroyed some of the equipment in the premises.

The police spokesman said that some of the church members sustained injuries as a result of the assault on them by the irate youth.

He, however, noted that some of the suspects were later said to have been arrested by policemen from Igueben Police Division, who responded to a distress call.

“They attacked a church at Ebelleduring the crossover night, destroyed church property and injured members of the church. One of them was arrested by members of the church and handed over to the police.

“While others were trying to escape from the scene, the police intercepted them and they have all made statements in connection with the case. As we speak, some members of the church are receiving treatment in the hospital,” Abiodun added.

But the suspects denied any involvement in the attack.

One of them, Adodo, who was said to have been found with bottle of alcohol, claimed to have bought the drink for his father.

He said, “I was arrested in a hospital. As I was coming from my house, I bought a bottle of wine to give to my father in the evening. As I was going home, a man met me and asked me if I wanted to drink inside the church and I told him that I wanted to give the drink to my father.

“They said that I caused the fight, but I did not; the church members beat me up and I fainted. I did not come near the church.”

However, the police spokesman told Southern City News that the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation, adding that the suspects would also be charged to court.

He said, “As soon as we are through with investigations, they will be charged to court. The era of impunity is over. You are aware that the command has zero tolerance for cultism.

“We will not spare them (cultists); this is a new year. We want to advise other cult members to denounce their membership of the various secret cults. That is the best way to go in this new year.”