Operatives of the Imo State Police Command have arrested four members of Vikings Confraternity cult syndicates in Mbaitoli Local Government Council of the state.
Spokesperson of the command, ASP Henry Okoye, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, said the suspected cultists have been terrorising the residents of Mbaitoli and other areas in the state.
The PPRO said in furtherance of the command’s zeal to flush out criminally minded elements from the state, operatives of the Anti-Vice Squad acting on credible intelligence, stormed the criminal hideout of a notorious Vikings Confraternity Cult syndicate at Mbeiri, in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo and arrested the suspects.
The suspects included; Chinaecherem Ozoemelam Miracle aka Gadafi of Umuokoto in Nekede, Chidera Nnajiofor of Umuokoto in Nekede, Obinna Sopuruchi Simon, of Ama Ohuru Nguru in Aboh Mbaise LGA and Alloysius Fabian of Umuegem Akabo in Ikeduru.
“The suspects opened fire on sighting the police officers but were subdued by the superior firepower of the gallant operatives,” the statement read.
“In the process, one of the suspects who sustained gunshot injuries on his leg was at the same time arrested together with his cohorts and rushed to the hospital for medical treatment.”
Okoye said that two locally made revolver shotguns, five rounds of live cartridges, military camouflage shorts, and face masks were recovered from the suspects.
“On interrogation, the suspects confessed to be members of the Vikings confraternity and provided useful information to the Police. Efforts are on top gear to arrest other suspects at large particularly the manufacturers of the locally made guns
“The suspects will be arraigned in court upon completion of a comprehensive investigation,”
Okoye said that the State Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, calls on the well-meaning residents of Imo to assist the police in the fight against cultism and other violent crimes in the State.
The CP implores parents and guardians to caution their wards against indulging in any form of cultism or criminal activities.
The police boss reaffirms that the Command remains unwavering in its commitment to providing maximum safety and security for all and sundry in the state.