Cult Gang Member with Fake NANS Plate Nabbed in Edo – Police Parade 15 Suspects

In a recent crackdown on criminal activities, the Edo State Police Command has apprehended a 28-year-old man, Martin Uwaifo, confessing to his affiliation with the Vikings secret cult confraternity. Uwaifo was among 15 suspects paraded by the Anti-Cultism Unit of the Command, revealing a disturbing criminal network operating within the state.

Uwaifo’s arrest unfolded during a routine stop-and-search operation along Okabere Street, off Upper Sakponba Road, Benin City. Operating in a Lexus RX350 SUV, he had equipped his vehicle with a fake National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) number plate, using it as a cover for his illicit activities.

Police spokesperson, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, shared details of the arrest and the items recovered, including the deceptive NANS number plate, during a press conference at the Command’s headquarters in Benin City.

The broader sweep resulted in the detention of suspects involved in various crimes such as murder, cultism, advance fee fraud, illegal possession of suspected Indian hemp, conspiracy, burglary, and stealing. Among them was 40-year-old David Ibiso, arrested for posing as a medical doctor and registered travel agent, defrauding his victim, Josephine Egharevba, of ₦11,000,000 under the false pretense of procuring travel documents to the USA.

Additionally, 27-year-old Clinton Iyen, a suspected cultist, was apprehended following credible information. Iyen and his fleeing accomplice were implicated in a fatal shooting along Igun Street, Benin City.

The surge in cult-related killings in the state capital has claimed over 30 lives in recent weeks, prompting the State Police Commissioner, Funsho Adeboye, to reaffirm the commitment to purge the state of criminal elements. The parade of suspects serves as a testament to the authorities’ relentless efforts to maintain law and order in Edo State.