The Edo State Police Command, on Friday, said it had arrested a suspected cultist who was believed to be among the assailants who killed three vigilantes in the state.

In a statement made available to newsmen on Friday, the command’s Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, disclosed that operatives of the command also arrested 15 other suspected criminals and recovered several firearms and ammunition.

According to Yamu, the arrests were made while combing criminal hideouts and during house-to-house searches carried out in different parts of the state.

Yamu added that one of the suspects was arrested at the Benin Airport while trying to flee the state on June 28, 2025.

READ ALSO:Edo Police Arrest Four Suspected Cultists

The statement reads in parts: “The fight against cultism and other heinous crimes in Edo State and the bid to restore confidence in the public has been further demonstrated by the Edo State Police Command with the recent successes recorded across the State.

“One Bello Salami (33 years), member of the Maphite Confraternity who was fingered in the recent killing of three vigilante members along Wire Road in Benin-City. The suspect, a confessed Maphite was arrested on 28/06/2025 at about 10:00hrs at the Benin airport, while attempting to flee the State.

“In another development, on 26th June 2025 at about 15:00hrs, while acting on credible Intelligence, operatives of the Aduwawa Division arrested the duo of Abdulahi Eriamiator (18 years) and Moses Humphrey (25 years) both members of the Vikings Confraternity.

“On the same date at about 18:00hrs, operatives of the South Ibie Division arrested one Ahmed Hakeem (23 years) a member of the Aye Confraternity. Further investigation led to the arrest of Williams Kayode (25 years), David Sylvester (21 years), Oshoke Itepu (22 years), Emmanuel Monday (27 years) and Daniel Ehichioya (21 years) all residents of South Ibie in Etsako West Local Government, as well as the recovery of one shotgun, four four live cartridges, two axes, one cutlass, a bunker of “ice” an illicit drug in their possession. All of them have confessed to being members of the Aye Confraternity.

READ ALSO:Edo Police Arrest Three For Alleged Armed Robbery, Kidnapping

“Similarly, operatives of Irrua Division led by the DPO, acting on actionable intelligence arrested one Ogbe Osaghele (29 years) of Ebhoakhuale-Ekpoma at Idumebo-Irrua with a cut-to-size shotgun and two live cartridges. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend one Odion Osaghele and two others now at large, who are also members of the Aye Confraternity.

“In the same vein on the 28/06/2025, operatives of the Ekpoma Area Command tracked and arrested one Itua Odion (22 years) at a hotel in Ekpoma, through credible information. Upon immediate search, one fabricated pistol with two live cartridges was recovered. The suspect confessed to being the Esan Area Zonal Leader of the Neo Black Movement (NBM) also known as Black Axe Confraternity.

“While on 29/06/2025 at about 15:00hrs, operatives of the Jattu Division raided a flash point along Ibie Road and arrested one Hamza Umoru (27 years) of Ikabigbo Community. The suspects have confessed to being members of the Vikings Confraternity.

“Also, operatives of the Auchi Division intercepted and arrested Emmanuel Udeh 27 (years), Kalifa Kabir (24 years) and Ashiru Ahmed (22 years ) at various locations in Auchi in possession of a Jojef Magnum pump action with breech number 23YT0083. The trio disguised as iron scraps scavengers with the firearm concealed.

READ ALSO:Edo Police Nab Man For Allegedly Killing His Wife

“Lastly, on 01/07/2025 at about 01:30hrs, the home of one Jerry Orobor (50 years) at No 6 Ewinmandowan Street, off Major Road in Amagba Community, was raided based on credible information. Upon search of his house and premises, one automatic double barrel shotgun with 10 live cartridges and one faz cap bearing Aye Confraternity logo were recovered from him. The suspect has been taken into custody for further investigation.”

The command’s image maker, While reiterating the State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, reassurance that the command remained resolute in its fight against cultism, enjoined the people of the state to go about their lawful businesses and to report any suspicious activities around them to the Police, promptly.

Yamu assured that all suspects would be arraigned before the court as soon as investigations were concluded.

He never stopped beating me-Wife

A nursing mother, UmmulKulthum Muntari, has prayed a Shari’a court sitting in Magajin Gari, Kaduna State to dissolve her marriage to her husband, Ibrahim Dahiru over alleged battery.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), UmmulKulthum made the plea after her husband dragged her to court demanding to know the stand of their marriage, after accusing her of deserting their matrimonial home for three months.

”She moved her belongings out of our home even though I did not divorce her”, he said.

UmmulKulthum, in her defense said she could no longer stay in their marriage due to abuse.

READ ALSO:I Will Not Move Out Of My Husband’s House, Divorced Woman Tells Court

“He sent me away from our home,” she told the court.

Her brother, Isah Muntari, who stood as her witness, stated that he had been the one taking care of her feeding in the last three months.

UmmulKulthum said that his sister reported her husband to him on several occasions that he beats her.

”I had a discussion with my brother in-law and told him that we will return his N70,000 dowry since there is no peace in their marriage and he agreed.

”They later reconciled and she decided to go back to him; that is what I know”, he said.

The judge, Malam Kabir Muhammad, asked the defendant whether she had more witnesses but she said no.

He adjourned the case.

An Area Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, has dissolved the Islamic marriage between one Mujidat Abdullahi and Muyideen Raji based on mutual agreement.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN),the presiding judge, Toyin Aluko, in his ruling said that the husband sent a letter to the court, saying that he has agreed to the divorce application of his wife.

Aluko said that since the two parties have agreed to divorce, there was no need to prolong the case.

READ ALSO:My Husband Starved Me, Beat, Left Me Stark Naked After Tearing My Clothes, Woman Tells Court

He added that marriage should not be forced on anyone.

Aluko, therefore, dissolved their marriage and awarded custody of the only child of their marriage to the wife, due to the child’s young age.

The court ordered that the woman should observe the iddah (waiting) period before she could remarry again.

It also ordered that a copy of the ruling be made available to the husband.

READ ALSO:‘I Found Out That My Husband Was A Cultist, Drug Addict One Month Into Our Marriage’

Raji was ordered to pay the sum of N10, 000 monthly for the child feeding and upkeep.

He was also granted the opportunity to have unlimited access to the child, but at a reasonable time.

Earlier, the wife had told the court that she was tired of the marriage due to lack of love and care, adding that she wanted divorce.