By Desire Emmanjuel
Twenty one students of a secondary school in Edo State who belong to a cult group have been arrested by men of the state police command while they were about to launch an attack on another school in Benin City, the state capital.
The command announced the development in a statement on Saturday, adding that the boys, between the ages of 13 and 17, were students of Ogioma Secondary School located at Limit Road off Benin-Sapele road.
They were said to be planning to attack students of another school, Osemwende Secondary School, located at Oghoghibi off Benin–Sapele Road, Benin City, when policemen foiled the plan following intelligence reports gathered.
It was gathered that on November 12 at about 1:45 p.m., operatives attached to the Loveworld Divisional Headquarters, acting on credible intelligence, mobilised to Osemwende Secondary School where the students from Ogioma Secondary School were coming towards in a convoy of motorcycles
The response of the police operatives led to the arrest of the students and their names were given as Promise Afekokhian (16 years), Samuel John (16 years), Godstime Sunday (15 years), Basit Kareem (14 years), Destiny Lucky (15 years), Miracle Peter (16 years).
Others were Victor Innocent (14 years), Osazee Efe (16 years), Usman Adamu (17 years ), Orodge Miracle (15 years), Godspower Agharevba (16 years), Favour Ogunde (16 years), Clinton Oghenetega (17 years).
Also arrested were Wisdom Ehimen (17 years), Zenith Jonathan (17 years), Steven Monday (14 years), Ogbebor Calistus (17 years), Marvelous Imadefe (15 years), Success Ogar (16 years), Osaro Osama Praise (13 years) and Miracle Bassey (16 years).
According to the command, at the point of their arrest, three knives were recovered from the suspects.
The command wrote: “Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects had earlier circulated a threat voice note, boasting of plans to stage a war, burn down the school, and harm students and staff — a threat they attempted to carry out before being contained by police intervention.”
It was also gathered that both school principals have been invited for further questioning, and the students were arraigned in court.
While eight of the 21 students were remanded in custody, 13 others were released on bail to their parents who are expected to bring them to court on November 28 for the next sitting.
