Anambra Police crack down on cultism, arrest 54 suspects in separate raids

Stanley Ihedigbo

Anambra State Police Command has intensified its efforts to tackle the growing menace of cultism and drug abuse in the state.

In a series of raids conducted by operatives of the Special Anti-Cult Squad (SPACS) and other units, 54 suspects were arrested, comprising 39 males and 15 females.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the arrests were made following credible intelligence that cultists and drug peddlers were operating in various parts of the state.

In one of the raids, operatives recovered a large quantity of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp from a house in Umudioka Village, Dunukofia LGA.

The suspect, Chiderah Obochi, who was arrested earlier, led the police to the house where the drugs were recovered.

The Command has expressed deep concern over the increasing cases of moral decay in the society, particularly among the youth.

The police have attributed the trend partly to the declining levels of parental supervision and poor guidance over their children and wards.

In addition to the arrests, the Command has strategized further by adopting both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to tackle the menace.

These include inviting individuals suspected to be associated with cult groups for questioning and conducting targeted raids on drug hideouts.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has reassured the people of Anambra that the Command is committed to restoring sanity, protecting lives and property, and ensuring that the State remains safe for all law-abiding residents.

The recovered hard substances will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further necessary action.

The Command is working on credible intelligence to identify and apprehend drug dealers supplying these harmful substances.

Those found culpable will be charged to Court after undergoing screening and profiling.