the police in Anambra StateSouth East Nigeria said they have prosecuted 33 suspected cultists for various crimes in the state.
This was revealed by the state police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement on Sunday.
Ikenga, deputy superintendent of police, said the suspects were charged with membership in illegal cult groups, illegal possession and use of hard drugs and other psychotropic substances.
The police spokesman did not mention the court where the suspects were prosecuted. He also did not indicate when they were prosecuted.
He said the allegation came following the fresh crackdown on criminals in Anambra State ordered by the state commissioner of police.
“Several suspects remain detained and the investigation into several murders committed by suspected cultists is still ongoing,” he added.
Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye, has reiterated that “there will be no sacred cow” in the crackdown on cultists in the state, Ikenga said.
Adeoye promised that the state police would not compromise the ongoing investigation into the cases and that anyone accused would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
There have been frequent cult-related attacks in Anambra, especially in Awka, for some time now.
In July, for example, suspected cultists beheaded a member of a rival sect leader at Eke Awka market in Awka South local government area of state.
In early January, at least five people were killed in separate cult-related attacks in Okpuno, Awka South and Obosi communities in Idemili North local government areas of the state.
Additionally, suspected cultists killed six people in November 2022 in another cult clash in Awka.