Repentant cultists and the Ayen Community in Edo State have called on the Inspector-General of Police to intervene in the operation of its SWAT team, who they claim is colluding with suspected cult leaders in Edo to release suspects from custody.
A former cult leader in Benin, AmiolemenIdeh, told journalists that two suspects arrested by Edo State Special Security Squad and handed over to the Edo State Police Command for further investigation and prosecution, have since been released.
Ideh noted with dismay that they later learned that the case was transferred to Abuja and the suspects released a few days ago.
He further said that the suspects since returning to Benin, have been terrorizing the Ayen Community, as well as threatening elders and youth leaders who reported them, which led to their arrest, while also colluding with IGP’s SWAT team to arrest law abiding citizens.
Ideh said, “These two people according to the DPP here in Edo said they had a case to answer before they were taken to Abuja. Since their release, these people have unleashed terror in the community, shooting sporadically and threatening people.
“As this is happening, other innocent youths have been arrested by the SWAT team and taken to Abuja.
“We are using this medium to appeal to the Inspector-General of Police, to call the boss of the SWAT team, to release the innocent persons that are under his custody.
“The IG should also intervene so that these two persons can be brought to book because they have a case to answer in Edo State so that our efforts in trying to tackle cultism in Edo is not in vain.”
Also speaking on the development, the Secretary, Elders Council of Ayen Community, who pleaded anonymity said the boys have been terrorizing the community since 2013.
He said, “They have been using cult boys and dangerous weapons to terrorize us. Just two months ago, they were arrested in the community with guns and handed over to the police, and we had peace.
“Only for us to hear that they were transferred to Abuja and they have been released. They are back now, shooting sporadically and threatening people. The police from Abuja came to arrest innocent people in the community, and they have not been released.
“We are calling on the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II and Governor Monday Okpebholo to intervene in this matter because we want peace, and we don’t want cultists among us.”
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