Sixteen suspected members of Vikings Confraternity including one female have been arrested by officials of the Enugu state police command.

Spokesperson of the command, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, May 16, said the suspects were arrested for cultism and unlawful possession of firearms within two weeks.

Ndukwe said that the feat was achieved by joint operations carried out by police operatives attached to 9th Mile Police Division, Anti-Cult Unit and personnel of the Nigerian Army, 82 Division between April 19 and May 4, within a span of three council areas in the state.

Two cut-to-size locally-made gun, one locally-made pistol, two live cartridges, six mobile phones, powdery substance suspected to be heroin and weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp were recovered from the suspects.

They suspects included: Cornelius Uche, 31; Ifeanyi Umeneze, 22; Chijioke Anachuna, 34; Chibuzor Umeayo, 28; Chinedu Okeke, 23; Ozinachi Obadike, 22; Ifeanyi Nwagbo, 27; Chigozie Okeke, 18, and Chikamso Odinwankpa, 18.

They were arrested on May 4 within Ezeagu Local Government Area following their alleged involvement in bloody cult clashes.

Others included: Ozor Chidubem, 22; Amina Inalegwu (female), 18; Benard Bright, 20; Ugwu Chidera, 21; Ani Chukwuebuka, 23, and Onoh Obumneme, 20, who were all arrested on April 19 at about 3:30 a.m. along Enugu-Makurdi Expressway, 9th Mile, Udi L.G.A. on their way to allegedly plan and perfect a heinous cult activity, as preliminary investigation reveals.

“Another of the suspect, one Uchenna Aniagozie, 28, was arrested on April 28 for his alleged involvement in a deadly cult clash sometimes in January 2021. Preliminary investigation show that they all confessed to being members of Vikings Confraternity,’’ he said.

The police spokesman said that the suspects would be prosecuted accordingly once ongoing investigations into their nefarious activities are concluded.

“To this end, residents of the state have been called upon to remain law-abiding, vigilant and quickly report suspected criminals and their activities to the nearest police station. Residents can call the Command’s emergency hotlines on: 08032003702, 08075390883, 08086671202 or 08098880172,’’ he added.