A 14 -year-old girl, Chidinma Iheoma , and five other suspected cult members have been arrested by the operatives of the Imo State Police Command for beheading a man, Oguegbu Ofurum , for alleged ritual purpose .
The operatives were said to have nabbed the suspects while they were taking the severed head to a shrine at Assa community in the Ohaji/ Egbema Local Government Area allegedly for an initiation ceremony .
The Police Public Relations officer in the state , Andrew Enwerem , a Superintendent of Police , in a statement on Sunday said the breakthrough was as a result of the determination of the state Commissioner of Police , Chris Ezike , to stamp out cultism in the state.
Enwerem disclosed that the suspects , who were members of the “dreaded Deegbam cult in the Ohaji/ Egbema LGA of the state were arrested on September 26 by the operatives of the command in connection with the murder of one Oguegbu Ofurum. ”
The police spokesperson said investigation revealed that the suspects killed the victim on September 8.
He said, “ The suspects are members of the dreaded Deegbam cult in the Ohaji/Egbema LGA and were arrested on September 26 by the operatives of the command in connection with the murder of one Oguegbu Ofurum .
“ Investigation revealed that on September 8, while the suspects were carrying out their initiation , the victim was returning from the market and ran into them.
“ The suspects seized the victim, took him into the bush and killed him . Investigation is ongoing . “
Enwerem , who said the suspects had made “ useful statements ,” explained that the CP had taken the war against cultism in the state to tertiary institutions and villages.
Enwerem said , “The CP , Chris Ezike , has energised the anti -cult unit of the state police command for effective delivery .
“ The CP has deployed specially trained operatives to institutions and communities, where there are upsurge in crime -related activities , especially cultism, with the mandate that such groups should be dealt with .
“ The CP is partnering faith-based organisation , the media and community leaders to make sure that cultism and all forms of criminality are wiped out of the state .”
Other suspects arrested , according to the police spokesperson , are Lekwuwa Ogbuji , Ikechukwu Amaechi , and Clement Onyema.
