The police command in Edo said it had arrested no fewer than 18 suspects in the last month for various criminal activities.

The state’s commissioner of police, Funsho Adegboye, stated this while addressing journalists on the arrest in Benin on Monday.

Mr Adegboye said the figure comprised 10 suspects arrested for alleged cultism and terrorising residents of the state.

He said the command’s operatives also arrested two suspected kidnappers and, in another case, neutralised some during a gun duel leading to the rescue of a victim.

”The police command in Edo, in a bid to rid the state of criminal elements, has made some modest achievements.

“These included the arrest of kidnappers, cultists, armed robbers, illegal possessor of firearms, as well as recovery of firearms and other dangerous weapons,” he said.

He said the suspects included four persons who robbed one Michael Ebenezer of N20 million and a serial fraudster who allegedly defrauded a civil servant of N2 million under the pretence of helping to secure a visa to Spain for her.

The commissioner said the operatives also arrested a 20-year-old suspect for cyberstalking at the state’s Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area.

He said the suspect, on the internet, requested N240,000 from his victim (a lady) to solve her spiritual problem of having constant nightmares.

”After she transferred the money to him through his bank account, the suspect demanded her nude video for spiritual cleansing and promised to delete it after use.

”She did as he instructed, and after two weeks, the suspect demanded another sum of N400,000 or on failure to send the money, he would release the nude pictures to the public.

”It was at this point that the victim reported the matter to the police,” Mr Adegboye said.

He said the command, within the period under review, also recovered five arms, six ammunition and other items. 

(NAN)