THE Anambra State Police Command has arrested 16 suspected cultists and declared 21 others wanted in its continuing move to end the resurgent cult-related killings in Awka, the capital city of Anambra State.

No fewer than 34 persons lost their lives in cult-related killings in the city in the last three weeks, forcing stakeholders in the town to convoke an emergency summit to find a solution to the problem.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Tochukwu Ikenga said the arrested cultists were nabbed during a series of intelligence-led manhunts in Awka.

According to Ikenga, the arrested suspects have been detained on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye.
“The CP has vowed that the cultists responsible for the spate of killings after the state capital had enjoyed tranquillity for an unbroken six months period must pay for their crimes.

“He has also charged the Special Anti Cult Squad (SPACS) to redouble its effort and hunt down those who are still at large among the identified cultists,” the PPRO said.

He called on community and religious leaders in the state to always speak out against the evil of cultism in society, assuring that the state command would always protect them.