The Edo State Police Command has arrested 21 secondary school students, aged 13-17, for alleged cultism and planning to attack another school in Benin City. The students, from Ogioma Public Secondary School, were intercepted by police operatives on November 12, 2025, while attempting to storm Osemwende Public Secondary School with knives and chains.
According to the police, the students had circulated a threat voice note, boasting of plans to "stage a war", burn down the school, and harm students and staff. Eight of the suspects have been remanded in prison, while 13 were released to their parents or guardians, who are expected to produce them in court on November 28, 2025 ¹ ² ³.
The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, has urged parents and guardians to monitor their children's activities and associations, both in and out of school. He also called on school authorities to strengthen discipline and report suspicious gatherings or threats promptly ¹ ².
The arrest is part of efforts to curb cultism in Edo State, following the signing of a new anti-cultism law by Governor Monday Okpebholo in January 2025, which imposes harsher penalties for cult-related activities ⁴.
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