Cultists clash in Anambra as police arrest four suspects

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested four suspected cultists following a violent clash in Nsugbe community, Anambra East Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that the suspects were involved in the violent clash that occurred in the community in the early hours of Tuesday.

The violent clash among the suspected cultists was said to have occurred behind Nwafor Orizu College of Education, where some miscreants were sighted attacking one another with cutlasses, broken bottles, daggers and other dangerous weapons.

In a press statement released on Wednesday, the Spokesman for the state command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the clash, stating that the suspects were arrested during a joint operation of police operatives with local vigilante operatives.

Ikenga said during the fracas, one of the suspects sustained machete cuts, while some others fled into a nearby bush.

The statement read, “The Anambra State Police Command, in a joint operation with local vigilante operatives, has arrested four suspected cultists following a violent clash at Nsugbe, Anambra East LGA.

“On September 16, 2025, at about 7 am, armed miscreants suspected to be cultists were sighted attacking one another with cutlasses, broken bottles, daggers and other dangerous weapons behind Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe.

A swift response by a combined Police/Vigilante team led to the arrest of the following suspects: Oyachonam Friday ‘M’, 26yrs, Akachukwu Ekwenze ‘M’, 23yrs, David Chukwuma ‘M’, 25yrs, Eziolise Aloysius ‘M’, 23yrs, while others escaped into nearby bushes.

“During the fracas, one of the suspects, David Chukwuma, sustained machete cuts.

He has been provided with medical care and is currently responding to treatment for onward necessary action by the operatives.”

According to him, the suspects have all confessed to being members of the dreaded “AYES” confraternity.

“The case is currently under investigation, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing cultists.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu fwc MNIPS, PhD, reassures Ndi Anambra that the Command remains relentless in its fight against cultism and other forms of violent crimes in the State,” the statement concluded.

It can be recalled that on September 11 that the Anambra State Police Command had launched a manhunt for assailants who attacked mourners during a burial rite of an 18-year-old boy in Ezi Village, Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.

It is gathered that the gunmen, suspected to be cultists, stormed the burial venue, killing no fewer than four persons and injuring about 15 others.

Our correspondent gathered that some family members of the deceased and other mourners were conducting burial rites when the assailants stormed the place and opened fire on them.

The latest arrests underscore the growing concern over cult-related violence in Anambra communities. With recent attacks, including the Ogidi burial clash that left several people dead, the police have reiterated their commitment to intensifying operations against cult groups.