Police Uncover Links Between Cultism, Fraud, Robbery in Enugu
The Enugu State Police Command says recent operations have exposed growing connections between cult groups, fraud, and robbery across the state, following the arrest of six suspects in different incidents.
Command spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, in a statement on Saturday, disclosed that the suspects were detained in credible intelligence-driven raids carried out between August 25 and September 4, 2025.
According to him, three suspects identified as John Joseph, 34 (alias Musa), Kingsley Ubong, 40, and Kelvin Ogbonna, 43, were apprehended by the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad.
Police recovered a Daihatsu Hijet mini-bus and a Kymstone motorcycle, both without registration or engine numbers, during the operation.
Their arrests followed confessions from an earlier suspect, Chinedu Onwuka, who was nabbed in May for similar offences and remains in custody.
In a related operation on September 2, operatives also detained 38-year-old Sunday Egbuaba, suspected to be a member of the Junior Vikings Confraternity.
A search of his residence uncovered an HP laptop allegedly stolen from a victim.
His arrest was linked to information provided by another suspect, Ifeanyi Nnaji, 23, a Black Axe member currently under investigation for conspiracy, burglary, stealing, and cult activities.
Similarly, on August 30, police officers attached to Nsukka Urban Division rescued one Friday Nwaomege, 25, from a mob that had apprehended him for snatching an ATM card from a victim along Enugu Road, Nsukka.
He was found with 12 ATM cards belonging to different banks and an ENTRACO-branded Daihatsu Hijet mini-bus allegedly used for the operation.
The suspect, who sustained mob-inflicted injuries before police intervention, was treated and is now in custody, while his accomplices remain at large.
SP Ndukwe said efforts are ongoing to track down other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover more stolen items.
He added that all suspects would be charged in court once investigations are concluded.
The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, assured the public that the command remains committed to dismantling criminal networks that exploit cult affiliations to carry out fraud and violent crimes.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and continue supporting the police in the fight against criminality.
