The Anambra State Police Command has arrested 54 suspected cultists during a raid on a notorious black spot in Ogidi, located in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.
According to a statement released on Monday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the suspects comprising 39 males and 15 females were apprehended in separate operations carried out sperate operations.
Ikenga revealed that the late-night raid on Sunday followed credible intelligence indicating that cultists regularly converged at the Ogidi location to plan and execute their criminal activities.
“During the operation, 53 suspects were initially arrested, comprising 38 males and 15 females,” Ikenga stated, noting that a subsequent arrest brought the total to 54.
He confirmed that all suspects are currently undergoing screening and profiling, after which those found culpable will be formally charged in court.
The police spokesperson also confirmed the recovery of a significant quantity of substances suspected to be hard drugs, further compounding concerns about the role of drug abuse in fueling cult-related violence.
SP Ikenga expressed deep concern over the increasing moral decay in society, particularly among young people between the ages of 18 and 26.
He noted that despite previous successes by law enforcement, the disturbing trends such as cultism and self-orchestrated kidnappings continue to emerge.
“Recall that not long ago, the Command arrested a young lady who conspired with her boyfriend to fake her own kidnapping. They extorted ₦3,000,000 from her parents after initially demanding ₦10,000,000. In another case, a couple collected ₦1,000,000 in ransom from the girl’s parents after reducing their demand from ten million to three million,” he explained.
SP Ikenga cited a recent cult-related attack during a burial ceremony at Ezi-Ogidi, Ogidi, where four people were killed and fifteen others sustained serious injuries, as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address these threats.
He condemned the incident in the strongest terms, describing it as “unacceptable” and attributing the rise in such crimes to diminishing parental supervision and a lack of proper guidance for young people.
He said the Command has intensified its efforts, deploying more resources toward surveillance, patrols, and intelligence gathering aimed at preempting further violence.
Ikenga explained that the police have adopted both kinetic (forceful) and non-kinetic (non-violent) strategies.
“We are inviting individuals suspected of having links to cult groups for questioning and conducting targeted raids on drug hideouts. The abuse of hard drugs remains a primary driver behind the violent behavior exhibited by many of these youths,” he said.
He said that as part of an intensified anti-cultism campaign, operatives of the Special Anti-Cult Squad (SPACS), based in Enugwu-Ukwu, they arrested a male suspect identified as Chiderah Obochi, 25, during a patrol on September 12, 2025, at Ifitedunu, along the old Onitsha-Awka Road.
According to him,upon searching the suspect, police recovered quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.
He noted that during interrogation, Obochi confessed to being a drug runner operating in Umudioka Village, located in Dunukofia LGA.
Ikenga said that suspect was subsequently led officers to the residence of a suspected accomplice, Ginika Okeke, in Umudioka.
Although Okeke was not home at the time of the search, the police recovered 11 large bags filled with dried leaves believed to be Cannabis Sativa (Indian Hemp) from the premises.
Ikenga confirmed that the recovered substances will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.
The Command, he added, is pursuing credible intelligence to identify and apprehend major drug suppliers believed to be fueling the cultist network across Anambra.
On behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, Ikenga assured residents that the Command remains fully committed to restoring sanity, safeguarding lives and property, and ensuring that Anambra State remains safe and secure for all law-abiding citizens.
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