Police foil cult initiation of students in Ebonyi

Ebonyi State Police command Tuesday foiled initiation of forty-six graduating students of a popular mission secondary school (name withheld) in Izzi local government area of Ebonyi State.
The students just concluded writing their National Examination Council (NECO) and are said to be members of a cult group identified as Junior Vikings.
They had gathered at a hotel in the metropolis located along old Enugu Road to be initiated into a senior group known as Senior Vikings when police swooped on them following a tip-off.
As the initiation lasted, the police stormed the venue leading to the arrest of over fifteen of the students while the initiators flee.
Police spokesman, DSP Chris Anyanwu said the initiators had dangerous items which he said they arranged for the initiation, adding that the police have mounted man-hunt to arrest the fleeing suspects.
He explained that the initiators who are members of the Senior Vikings mandated the graduating students who dressed in white hats, red shirts and black trousers to be initiated into the senior team or be ready to face difficult condition in their lives.
Anyanwu who regretted that cult activities have increased in the state in the last few months, announced that the command will embark on sensitization campaign to various schools in the state to enlighten the students on the need to shun cultism.
He noted that if not checked, cultism can lead to violent crime like armed robbery and kidnapping, describing it as a societal problem.
The spokesman revealed that the command has arrested a kingpin of a popular cult group in Ikwo local government area of the state.
Therefore they will get out of the streets once the governor fulfills his promises.

Photo depiction