A 32-year-old suspected cult leader in Edo State, Osakpolor Edebor, has been apprehended by police operatives.
Edebor, who has been on the police “wanted list”, was arrested in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.
The suspect allegedly belongs to a gang of gunmen operating as secret cult members.
He is alleged to have led the beheading of one Cyril at Uwelu Market in Benin.
Following the gruesome act, he escaped to Auchi and reportedly joined a group of internet fraudsters operating a “yahoo yahoo academy.
It was further gathered that due to
the gang’s fraudulent activities in Auchi, the police raided the academy and arrested Edebor.
He was then transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department at the police headquarters in Benin for further investigation.
During police investigation, Edebor was fingered as the alleged killer of Cyril in Uwelu.
During interrogation, Edebor confessed to participating in Cyril’s murder, claiming it was revenge for the killing of a cult member he identified only as Lagbaja.
Edebor, who confessed to the crime said: “I was arrested in Auchi where I was doing yahoo yahoo (internet fraud) after disagreement over the sharing of the proceeds. Someone withheld our share of N6 million share after he had taken his own share of the proceeds.
“So, I and others violently stormed his house in a bid to recover the money. People then called the police and we were arrested.
“It was when we got to the police station that information filtered out that I was in custody. That was how the cult matter was added.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Umoru Ozigi, said other gang members now at large, have been identified.
Ozigi stated that those at large would be arrested soon.
He commended residents for volunteering information that has helped to tame the menace of cultism in the state.
He said, “Edobor has been apprehended and a manhunt is on for other gang members. We thank residents for giving information that led to his arrest.”
The ongoing bloody clashes between rival confraternity groups in the state have left dozens dead.
