Police arrested 13 suspected cultists during an initiation ceremony in Eleme, Rivers State. Officers swooped on the gathering in a forest between Alode and Onne early Sunday morning.
An eyewitness named Lene told the News Agency of Nigeria that roughly 100 young men had assembled at the location for the ritual. Security operatives arrived while the ceremony was underway, he explained.
Many cultists bolted deeper into the forest when they spotted approaching police. But officers managed to apprehend 13 suspects at the scene.
Lene identified them as members of Aiye Confraternity, better known as Black Axe. According to him, such forest initiations help the group strengthen its grip on the local government area.
Rivers Police Command spokesperson ASP Blessing Agabe confirmed the arrests when contacted. "Yes, I can confirm the arrests.
Investigation has commenced," she told reporters.
Agabe didn't elaborate on operational details. She kept her remarks brief and declined to comment further.
Cultism remains a serious security headache across parts of the state. Authorities have grown increasingly concerned about the threat it poses to residents.
On Saturday, police launched a joint operation with the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, Department of State Services, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps. The collaborative effort targets kidnapping, cult activities, and other violent crimes plaguing the state.
