The Edo State Police Command has arrested 21 secondary school students for alleged involvement in cult-related activities, while three others reportedly escaped during the operation.
In a statement on Saturday, the Command’s spokesperson, SP Chidi Yamu, said the students, aged 14 to 17, are pupils of Ogioma Public Secondary School, located on Limit Road, off Benin–Sapele Road in Benin City.
According to Yamu, the suspects have been arraigned in court, with eight remanded in prison custody, while the remaining 13 were released to their parents and guardians on the condition that they appear in court on November 28, 2025, for the continuation of proceedings.
The arrests followed a foiled attack on Osemwende Public Secondary School, at Oghoghibi, also off Benin–Sapele Road. The police spokesperson said operatives from the Loveworld Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, acted swiftly on credible intelligence and apprehended the suspects on November 12, 2025, at approximately 1:45 p.m.
Yamu explained that officers moved to Osemwende Public Secondary School after reports emerged that suspected cult members from Ogioma Public Secondary were heading to the school in a convoy of motorcycles, allegedly to carry out violent attacks. The suspects were intercepted before any harm could occur.
The police added that the principals of both schools have been invited for further questioning as part of an ongoing investigation.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects had circulated a threatening voice note, boasting of plans to ‘stage a war,’ burn down the school, and inflict harm on students and staff — a threat they attempted to execute before being stopped by police operatives,” Yamu said.
He noted that the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, has urged parents and guardians to closely monitor their children’s activities and associations, both within and outside the school environment.
“The Command also calls on school authorities to strengthen discipline, promptly report suspicious gatherings or threats, and work closely with the police to curb juvenile delinquency and violence in schools.
The Command remains committed to ensuring the safety and protection of all residents, particularly within school environments, in line with the Nigeria Police Force’s Safe Schools Initiative,” the statement added.
Items recovered from the suspects included three knives, according to the police.
