The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ekiti command, on Friday paraded five suspects (names withheld) in connection with illicit drug dealing, cultism and fraud.

Parading the suspects at the NSCDC headquarters in Ado-Ekiti, the state commandant, Sunday Agboola, said the command acted on tip-offs on the activities of the suspects.

Mr Agboola explained that a 25-year-old man was arrested along Nova Road, Adebayo, Ado-Ekiti, after operatives of the counter terrorism unit traced him from a university environment in the state to where he was arrested.

He was found in possession of substances suspected to be cannabis sativa and other illicit drugs that were yet to be ascertained.

The commandant described the suspect as an illicit drug dealer in Ado-Ekiti who was arrested following a tip-off.

He said following a report from campuses in the state, some unscrupulous elements were always visiting them to distribute illicit drugs to students, thereby aiding cult-related activities across the schools.

According to the NSCDC boss, drugs and criminal tendencies are Siamese twins; if one is curbed, the other may be inactive.

Also, another suspect was arrested after a series of complaints against him that he had been going around and parading himself as an estate agent.

He was, however, alleged to have used fictitious names to dupe his clients, upon which preliminary investigations revealed he had successfully duped over 15 clients amounting to over N2 million.

Similarly, a resident of 22 Onala Street, a 32-year-old resident of Bawa Estate, and a 28-year-old resident of Adebayo Street, all in Ado Ekiti, were arrested for cult-related offences.

Mr Agboola said the command received a distressed call from a 23-year-old man of Ayemi Garage, Ado-Ekiti, that some cult members attacked their victim with dangerous weapons, nearly taking his life.

“The command’s Counter Terrorism Unit arrested three persons in connection with the dastard act while efforts are in top gear to apprehend others.

“The victim, whose Bajaj motorcycle, with registration number JER 245 Ekiti, was taken away by the cult members, also lost other items, including an undisclosed amount of money,” he said.

The security boss, who was critical about eradicating cultism in Ekiti campuses and towns, challenged parents to study their wards and take note of any new behaviour they exhibit.

This, he said, would initiate the process of rehabilitation before wrecking the future leaders.

He urged the general public to make available information and facts that could assist in sanitising the environment of criminal elements as well as their enablers.

He assured that the command would expedite actions, and after the completion of preliminary investigations, the suspects would be made to face the law of the land.

(NAN)