Anambra cult war: Police move against sponsors, assemble evidence

<p>Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr Aderemi Adeoye has moved to stop the rise in cult related killings in Awka, the State capital.</p>, <p>Awka has recently become an arena for cult related killings owing to a supremacy battle among rival groups.</p>, <p>A week ago, following the killing of a popular local musician in front of his house, and the butchering of a mentally ill man, the spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga in a press release disclosed that the Commissioner has planned an operation that would see to the massive arrest of cultists and their sponsors.</p>, <p>Ikenga quoted CP Adeoye as saying: “The Police Command will come down very hard on these heartless cultists who take pleasure in killing people.</p>, <p>“We warn that no one should call us for the release of any cultist arrested in the coming clampdown, except they want to be disgraced.</p>, <p>“There will be an all out operation against cultists and their sponsors in the State. We assure the good people of Anambra State that their peace and tranquillity that was punctured by the recent cult-related killings in the capital will soon be restored.</p>, <p>“We solicit the cooperation of all law-abiding citizens in ridding the society of the menace of cultism.”</p>, <p>One week after the threat, DAILY POST enquired to know what has been done.</p>, <p>In an exclusive interview, the commissioner of police said work had already started, and that several suspects were arrested, while the command was concentrating on building evidence against their sponsors for possible arrest.</p>, <p>“Over that weekend more than 55 suspects were arrested, including 14 who were rounded up during initiation in a forest. They were rounded up in a forest.</p>, <p>“They were to be initiated into one of the cults and the officers in the area arrested them, and recovered all the weapons.</p>, <p>“Among those arrested, another 25 have been linked to crimes that are cult related and arraignment in court has already started, and those found