The Edo State Police Command has arrested seven suspected members of the Eiye Confraternity inside a hospital in Uromi, the headquarters of Esan North-East Local Government Area. The suspects were reportedly holding a secret meeting to plan an attack on a rival cult group. Their arrest marks another step in the state government’s attempts to curb the rising trend of cult-related violence in Edo communities.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Yamu, made this known on Thursday in a statement issued in Benin City. According to him, officers acted on credible intelligence that the suspects, all believed to be members of the Eiye Confraternity, had converged at the hospital to deliberate on how to launch an attack on the Aye Confraternity. The planned attack was said to be in retaliation for a clash that occurred earlier between an Eiye member, popularly called “I Dey Chop,” and an Aye member identified as Asuelimen Saviour. Both men were injured during the confrontation.
Yamu explained that the arrests were carried out on November 15, 2025, by policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area. The officers stormed the hospital after receiving information that the injured cultists and their allies were using one of the hospital wards as a meeting point. He added that the suspects were taken into custody without the police firing a single shot.
Items recovered from the suspects included one battle axe and several pieces of cult-related paraphernalia. These materials, according to the PPRO, confirmed the intelligence that the group was preparing for a violent operation. He further revealed that the second suspect involved in the fight, Asuelimen Saviour of the Aye Confraternity, was later arrested on November 16, one day after the initial operation. Investigations into the case are now ongoing.
The arrest highlights a broader problem that Edo State has been grappling with for years—cultism. Various confraternities, including the Eiye and Aye groups, have been active in several parts of the state. Their disputes often lead to violent confrontations, killings, and widespread panic in affected communities. Police authorities say young people are often the victims and participants in these clashes, with many drawn into the groups through peer pressure, promises of protection, or the allure of social belonging.
In Uromi and other communities within Edo Central, cult clashes have caused significant tension. Local residents frequently complain about the growing number of young men involved in cult groups and the rising incidence of violent attacks. Many residents say they feel unsafe, especially at night, due to fears of sudden reprisals between rival groups.
Edo State has also witnessed periodic police raids and community campaigns aimed at discouraging cult membership. Despite these efforts, security agencies say the groups continue to operate underground, holding meetings in hidden locations, including uncompleted buildings, forests, and sometimes private residences. The use of a hospital as a meeting point in this particular case highlights how cultists have increasingly sought unconventional spaces to avoid detection.
Yamu said the arrest of the seven suspects forms part of the state command’s renewed efforts to clamp down on violent crimes such as cultism, kidnapping, and armed robbery. He noted that the command has been carrying out targeted intelligence operations in various local government areas to identify and track cult members.
According to him, the police have recently increased patrols and surveillance in areas known to have high cult activity. The operation in Uromi, he said, was made possible through community cooperation and timely intelligence.
“We remain committed to the safety of all residents of Edo State,” Yamu said. “This arrest is part of our ongoing onslaught against violent crime. We will continue to act on credible intelligence to fish out criminals and ensure peace across the state.”
The PPRO urged residents to continue supporting the police by providing information that could help prevent future attacks. He assured the public that all suspects arrested in connection with cultism will face the full weight of the law once investigations are completed.
For more than a decade, Edo State has been one of the states in Nigeria with recurring cult violence. Analysts trace the issue to social and economic conditions that allow cult groups to grow, including unemployment, peer pressure among youths, and the influence of older members who recruit teenagers.
Confraternities such as Eiye, Aye, Black Axe, Maphite, and Vikings are known to have large followings in tertiary institutions, but their activities have also spread to rural communities and urban centres. While some members join for perceived protection or social status, many later become involved in criminal acts such as extortion, drug dealing, and armed robbery.
Successive state governments in Edo have launched campaigns and partnerships with religious groups, traditional rulers, and civil society organisations to discourage cultism. However, the police continue to confront periodic outbreaks of violence, especially when rival groups clash over territorial control or seek revenge for killings.
In Uromi, news of the arrests spread quickly, and many residents expressed relief that the planned attack was stopped. Some community members said they hoped the arrests would help reduce tension in the area, especially since the clash between “I Dey Chop” and Asuelimen Saviour had already raised fears of retaliation.
A local resident who preferred not to be named said: “We thank the police for acting fast. If they did not arrest them, another fight would have started, and innocent people might have suffered.”
Others called for more regular patrols, saying cultists often take advantage of dark spots and isolated areas to carry out attacks. Some residents also urged the government to create more job opportunities and youth programmes to discourage young men from joining cult groups.
The suspects are expected to remain in police custody pending further investigation. The command says it will trace other members linked to the two confraternities and monitor their activities closely to prevent further violence.
As Edo State continues to battle cultism and other security challenges, residents hope that stronger collaboration between communities and security agencies will lead to safer neighbourhoods. For now, the arrest in Uromi stands as another reminder of the ongoing fight to curb cult violence across the state.
