I paid N35,000 to join cult – Suspect

A cult suspect, Ikechinachi Chinyere who is currently in police custody, has stated that he paid the sum of N35, 000 to join cultism in Rivers State.
Chinyere, 31, was paraded alongside other suspected cultists and armed robbers at the state Anti-Kidnapping Unit on Tuesday, March 24, 2015.
The suspect, who admitted before newsmen of being a cult member, said he decided to join the gang because he was facing intimidation by other cultists in the area where he lived.
“I have been facing intimidation at where I live; so reaching December 2014, I met one of them to teach me their orientation so the boy said I will pay him money before he will teach me their orientation so that they will not be intimidating me again.
“So I gave him N35,000, Last week Tuesday (March 17, 2015), I was in my house at Rumuobiakani when the police came and arrested me. I am not a thief; I don’t fight; I don’t take alcohol. The problem is that if I go to them (cultists) they will excuse me because I don’t know all their orientation,” he said.
Also, a 300 level Accountancy student of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, who gave his name as Chika Rex Evans, admitted to being a member of the Vikings fraternity.
“I was arrested at my school matriculation party; I am a 300 level student of Accountancy at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, RSUST. I was with my friends during my school matriculation party and when we heard police serine we started running so the police chased us and arrested us.”
Meanwhile, leader of a four-man armed robbery gang, Daniel Samuel, also admitted to committing the crime, saying they were sent by a brother to the victim on the operation.
“I dropped out of Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri, in Port Harcourt. I cannot say I am using it to help my family. I have something I am doing so when this man called us and provided the items for us we went for the operation.”
Briefing newsmen earlier, the state police spokesman, DSP Ahmad Muhammad said the armed robbery suspects were arrested on their way back from Uyo, after robbing one Akpan Usen Bassey of about N1.6million at Akpajo junction at Eleme area of Port Harcourt.
He said other items recovered from the gang included a Sienna bus with registration number RH399CH, one locally made revolver, one live cartridge, 17 assorted cell phones, and an international passport belonging to the victim.
He, therefore, called on criminals to desist from the act or face the full wrath of the law, saying despite political activities, the command is still alive to its primary responsibility of providing security for the citizenry in the state.