Benin City, Nigeria – May 3, 2025 — The Edo State Police Command has arrested 95 suspected cultists in connection with a resurgence of deadly cult clashes that have claimed several lives across the state in the last two weeks.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Command’s spokesperson, SP Moses Yamu, confirmed the arrests, disclosing that 64 of the suspects have already been charged to court and remanded in custody, while investigations continue on the remaining individuals.
According to the police, the suspects are members of the Maphites, Eiye, and Aye confraternities, who have been engaged in a violent battle for supremacy. The clashes have resulted in loss of lives and heightened tension in Benin City and surrounding areas.
The police further disclosed that sustained intelligence-led operations across the affected areas led to the recovery of two locally made pistols, one single-barrel shotgun, and 24 live cartridges from the suspects.
“The Edo State Police Command has arrested 95 suspected cultists and recovered firearms in a series of raids targeting their enclaves in Benin and its environs over the past week,” the statement said.
“These suspects, who belong to the notorious Maphites, Eiye, and Aye confraternities, are believed to be responsible for the recent cult-related killings across the state.”
In response to the troubling trend, the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, has appealed to parents and guardians to monitor the activities of their children and wards closely. He warned youths to steer clear of cultism, noting that involvement in such groups could lead to the destruction of their futures or loss of lives—either theirs or those of innocent people.
The police assured the public of its continued commitment to eradicating cult-related violence in Edo State and urged residents to support law enforcement efforts by providing timely and credible information.
