TheCable

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says its operatives have arrested two suspected cultists, involved in ritual activities, in Imo state.

The suspects include Ifeanyi Ogu, 30, and Stanley Ibeh, 23.

Matthew Ovye, the NSCDC commandant in the state, while parading the suspects on Wednesday, said they often disguised as commuters, and used charms to perpetrate the crimes.

Ovye said the arrest was carried out by the command’s rapid response squad along the Okigwe road, Owerri, during an attempt by the suspects to forcefully dispossess a second-year student of Imo State University, identified as Neme, of her belongings.

He assured the public that the NSCDC will continue to work with other security agencies to curb insecurity in the state, and urged the people of Imo to be cautious when boarding buses, and to report suspicious persons to the appropriate authorities.

“They are locally called ‘One Chance People’. They usually use minibuses. We’re currently investigating them and we will prosecute them in due course because they are sabotaging the efforts of government and contributing to insecurity,” Ovye said.

Neme, 20, said she was on her way to school at about 8.00 am on Monday when a minibus stopped in front of her and two men alighted from it.

“They asked me to remove my bangle, claiming it is a symbol of their cult group, and to buy them something to appease them but I made a call and they immediately fled,” she said.

While confessing to the crime, one of the suspects said they stopped Neme to admire her bangle, before expressing interest in her and exchanging contacts.

However, the second suspect totally denied involvement in the events leading to their arrest.