Police in Benin have arrested 14 Junior Secondary School (JSS) students over their alleged involvement in cult-related activities in Benin City.
The students whose age ranges between 12 and 15 were picked when a crack team of policemen stormed Oguola Secondary School, Saint –Saviour, Benin City, last Thursday.
Dependable sources hinted our reporter that the teenage suspected cultists are being screened at the state criminal Investigation Department, SCID, police headquarters, Benin City.
Principal of the school, Mr. Ehanire Reuben said that eight of the students were nabbed at flash spots in the school compound.
He stated that their arrest prompted the police team to conduct a search on some students in the classrooms.
Mr. Ehanire added that items believed to be emblems of notorious cult groups in Edo State were recovered from them.
He however, maintained that reports made against the students by some parents may have triggered the raid.
He also disclosed that prior to the onslaught; he was told that a student teacher in the school was attacked as his phone and wallet were taken by some students who equally attacked other persons in the area.
Mr. Ehanire appealed to the police command to release those found to be innocent.
The Spokesman for Edo police command, DSP Stephen Onwochei stated that the raid on the school followed a tip-off.
DSP Onwochei said that though those arrested were underage, the paraphernalia found on the students called for proper investigation.
He maintained that the police command would not leave any stone unturned in its renewed war against cultism and other crimes in Edo.
