The operatives of the Enugu police command invaded the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) and arrested over 52 students.
The Enugu State Police Command says it has busted and arrested 18 members of Black Axe Confraternity, allegedly hatching their plans to execute sinister activities to mark the group's 7/7 day celebration.
Reporters had claimed recently that operatives of the Enugu police command invaded the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) and arrested over 52 students.
Although the police kept silent over the arrest, in a statement issued on Tuesday morning, it revealed that its operatives serving in the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad carried arrest between July 6 and 7, 2023.
In the statement issued by the Command's spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the police said the suspects were arrested at different locations of the State when they were hatching their plans to execute what he described as "sinister activities to mark their 7/7 day celebration."
The statement partly read, "Their arrest, which was due to the Operatives acting on an intelligence report, led to the recovery of one (1) Pump Action gun with six (6) live cartridges, one (1) Sharp battle axe, three (3) Black berets (3) inscribed "Black Axe", three (3) black-yellow colour Face-caps inscribed "Ezeagu Sub Zone 7 7", a yellow in colour Muffler and three (3) Drums.
"Among those arrested is one Nweke Chukwuemeka (a.k.a Anya-Oku) aged 22, identified as the Head of Kilimanjaro (KJ) Temple, which is the name for the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) cluster of the secret cult group.
"Others include: Edeh Obinna aged 24, Nku Chinedu aged 20, Chukwu Ikenna aged 38, Eze Odinaka aged 21, Obiora Nnamani aged 29, Onu Nwangwu aged 26, Ugwu Alexander aged 25, Benjamin Edeh aged 25, Ugwu Valentine Kingsley aged 24 and Nwafor Chiemerie David aged 25.
"Also arrested is Ugochukwu Victor Ikwuakolam aged 28, Ugwu Dickson aged 25, Chidiobi Onyekachi aged 31, Calistus Uzoechi aged 34, Eziechina Ikechukwu aged 21, Onyebuchi Udeh aged 23 and Onyemaobi Chigozie aged 35.
"Ongoing investigation shows that suspects confessed to being members of Black Axe Confraternity and had unlawfully assembled in the locations of their arrest, to carry out illicit acts to mark the group's 7/7 day celebration."
Ndukwe, however, noted that some of the suspects were found to have been previously arrested and arraigned in court for similar criminal acts.
He said they would be arraigned in court as soon as investigation had been concluded.
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