The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 21 secondary school students over alleged involvement in cult-related activities, while three others reportedly fled the scene during the operation.
The Command’s spokesperson, Moses Yamu, disclosed the development in a statement on Saturday, noting that the arrested students, aged between 14 and 17, are pupils of Ogioma Public Secondary School situated on Limit Road, off the Benin–Sapele Road in Benin City. He said the suspects have already been charged to court for prosecution.
According to Yamu, eight of the students were ordered to be remanded in prison custody, while 13 others were released to their parents or guardians with instructions to produce them on November 28, 2025, for the next court sitting.
He explained that the arrests followed a foiled attack on Osemwende Public Secondary School, located at Oghoghibi, also off the Benin–Sapele Road. The students were apprehended by officers attached to the Loveworld Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, during the operation carried out on November 12, 2025, around 1:45 pm.
Yamu said the operatives acted on credible intelligence and quickly moved to Osemwende Public Secondary School, where the suspects, believed to be cult members from Ogioma Public Secondary School, were intercepted as they allegedly arrived in a convoy of motorcycles to perpetrate violent acts. He added that the principals of both schools have been invited for further questioning.
“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,” he said.
Yamu also stated that the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, has appealed to parents and guardians to pay closer attention to the activities and associations of their children both at home and in school.
“The Command also calls on school authorities to strengthen discipline, report suspicious gatherings or threats promptly, and collaborate closely with the police to prevent juvenile delinquency and violence in schools.”
”The Command remains committed to ensuring the safety and protection of all residents, especially in schools across the state, in line with the Nigeria Police Force Safe Schools Initiative,” he added.
He further disclosed that items recovered from the students included three knives.
