The Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad of Enugu State Police Command successfully apprehended 18 individuals suspected to be affiliated with the Black Axe Confraternity.
These individuals were causing fear and unrest in various regions of the state.
According to a statement made by DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the police spokesperson, the arrests were made on July 6 and 7.
The suspects were caught in the midst of planning malevolent activities to commemorate the group’s 7/7 day celebration.
Ndukwe credited the intelligence report for enabling the operatives to take swift action, resulting in the arrest of the suspects and the recovery of incriminating items.
“Items recovered from them were one Pump Action gun with six live cartridges, one Sharp battle-axe, three Black berets inscribed “Black Axe”, three black-yellow Face-caps inscribed “Ezeagu Sub Zone 7 7”, a yellow muffler and three drums.
“Among those arrested is one Nweke Chukwuemeka, 22, alias Anya-Oku, identified as the head of Kilimanjaro (KJ) Temple, which is the name for the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) cluster of the secret cult group. Others include: Edeh Obinna, 24, Nku Chinedu, 20, Chukwu Ikenna, 38, Eze Odinaka, 21, Obiora Nnamani, 29, Onu Nwangwu, 26, Ugwu Alexander, 25, Benjamin Edeh, 25, Ugwu Valentine Kingsley, 24 and Nwafor Chiemerie David, 25.
“Others include Ugochukwu Victor Ikwuakolam, 28, Ugwu Dickson, 25, Chidiobi Onyekachi ,31, Calistus Uzoechi, 34, Eziechina Ikechukwu, 21, Onyebuchi Udeh, 23 and Onyemaobi Chigozie, 35”, Ndukwe said.