A controversy has erupted within the Edo State Police Command following allegations that two police officers were detained after arresting a suspected cultist.
In contrast, the suspect was subsequently released, allegedly on the orders of a senior police officer from outside the state.
According to a report circulating from the Iyekogba Area Command, police officers on December 29, 2025, acted on intelligence indicating that a suspected cultist was terrorising communities within the Iyekogba axis of Benin City.
The suspect was reportedly intercepted while riding a motorcycle and taken into custody for interrogation.
The report claimed that during profiling, the suspect allegedly confessed to being a member of a cult group, with what was described as “evidence” obtained in the course of the investigation.
However, while the investigation was ongoing, the suspect allegedly contacted a Commissioner of Police who is not currently serving in Edo State.
The senior police officer was said to have expressed anger over the arrest, reportedly insisting that the suspect was on a plumbing assignment at her residence. It was further alleged that the commissioner ordered the detention of the police officers involved in the arrest, despite them carrying out what was described as their legitimate duties.
Sources alleged that the investigation file has since been transferred to the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations at the Edo State Command, while the two officers, Inspector Nosa Onaghise and Inspector France Oyakhire, both attached to the Iyekogba Area Command, remain in detention. The suspect, according to the same account, has been released.
The development has raised concerns among members of the public, particularly in light of the Edo State Government’s repeated pledges to eradicate cult-related activities in the state. Critics argue that the incident, if confirmed, could undermine police morale and weaken efforts to combat crime and criminality.
In reaction, several citizens expressed divergent views, calling for caution and a thorough investigation.
Nsikak Edem argued that arrests must be evidence-based, stating that “you can’t arrest someone on the road and detain the person without evidence,” while alleging that some officers engage in indiscriminate arrests, especially of those unable to pay bail.
Okerhe Ogheneruemu questioned the narrative surrounding the arrest, suggesting it may have been a random stop that “landed them where they currently are,” and urged the public to await the outcome of investigations.
Similarly, Samuel Nmoyem warned against rushing to conclusions, stressing that the allegation involves a serving or former Commissioner of Police. He called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to initiate a proper probe, noting that false accusations by police officers have, in the past, led to innocent Nigerians being jailed.
Other commenters, including Andrew Amuko and Enatome Okpakpor, suggested the possibility of an attempted extortion that backfired, while also insisting that the matter be thoroughly investigated to establish the truth and hold any culpable parties accountable.
The incident has prompted calls for the Inspector-General of Police to intervene, with observers warning that failure to transparently address the allegations could further erode public confidence in law enforcement and discourage officers genuinely engaged in fighting crime.
