….turn robbery, assassination to ‘conglomerate’
- We suck blood, eat human flesh -Member
- We’ve arrested 323 persons -Police
- Arase sends anti-cult squad to Edo
NOSA AKENZUA, ASABA
There are strong indications that Delta State may have been virtually taken over by no fewer than seven deadly cult groups, who seem to have overwhelmed security operatives in the state.
Painstaking investigations by The Point revealed that the different groups, generically called, ‘The Big Boys’ were deadlier than the various cult groups operating in many of Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
The cult members, according to findings, have been unleashing terror on residents of Asaba, the state’s capital, Warri, Kwale, Ogwashi-Uku and Ozoro, among other major communities, in a new wave of crime and terrorism that have reportedly left the security agents confused.
Impeccable sources within the law enforcement agencies, revealed that the various groups, usually led by educated and influential hooligans of between 30 and 35 years of age, had been competing for relevance in the state, noting that this situation had led to a sad increase in their criminal activities.
The groups, it was gathered, had hierarchies and had customised different criminal acts, which include robbery, kidnapping, hired assassination, reprisals, native felony and rape. The influential cult groups, according to findings, are: Ake, Eiye, Red Label, Black Axe, Flying Cat, Red Wing and Vikings. Of all the seven groups, however, the Ake cult group is believed to be the deadliest and most-connected, as its members are said to spread across the political class in most parts of the South-South.
To know an Ake member, a source disclosed, “Look out for his hand bangle with the inscription, ‘My strength is big.’ The bangle is reportedly sold for N25,000. “Ake is the most dreaded cult group. During initiation, we suck blood, eat part of the person’s body and take the oath of allegiance.
Monday Boboyo, a member of the Ake confraternity, told our correspondent. Findings also showed that communities like Kwale, Umunede and Asaba were worst hit by the atrocities of the Ake confraternity as they reportedly had the highest concentration of membership of the cult. Ake membership, it is said, increases daily.
RECENT ATROCITIES
Investigations by The Point revealed that police authorities in Delta and neighbouring Edo State had been drawn to their wits’ end by the activities of the cult groups, who had now turned robbery, kidnapping, hired attacks and rape to a conglomerate.
Only recently, persons believed to be cultists killed two persons in the Kwale community and destroyed two buildings in Warri. According to indigenes, the cult groups usually operate for 30 minutes in each of their targeted communities, in a way that showed that their strategies had been clearly mapped out.
Two weeks ago, the cult members struck in Igbudu, Agbassa Cemetery and Warri-Sapele roads where residents, including school children, were either shot, stabbed or axed.
They were said to have stabbed a patent medicine operator in the throat in Warri before moving to the Enerhen Junction where they destroyed two houses belonging to a prominent politician. The patent medicine operator, identified as Ejiro Lucky, unfortunately, died while being rushed to the hospital.
In the same vein, a Mobil Filling
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