The Edo State Police Command, Friday, paraded five suspected cultists who were arrested in connection with an alleged attack on a Pentecostal church in Igueben Local Government Area of the state during its New Year crossover service.

While parading the suspects: Godday Otoide, 30, Emma Adodo, 28, Odion Orukpe, 23, Ehis Ayoyo, 20 and Itama Lucky, 20 at the command’s headquarters in Benin, the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Osifo Abiodun, said the incident occurred in Ebele community on December 31, 2015.

Abiodun said one of the suspects had walked into the church, holding a bottle of alcohol and a lit cigarette in his mouth and that he was intercepted by one of the church members who advised him to leave and told him it was not appropriate to attend the religious ceremony with the objects.

However, an argument reportedly ensued when the suspect insisted on staying before he was allegedly forced out.

According to reports, some youths suspected to have been invited as reinforcement by the suspect suddenly stormed the church premises and ordered the presiding pastor out of the podium, a development that brought the service to an abrupt end.

Overwhelmed by what seemed unprecedented, the congregation was said to have fled for safety in the middle of the night for fear of being injured as the suspected cultists allegedly destroyed some of the equipment in the premises.

The police spokesman said that some of the church members sustained injuries as a result of the assault on them by the irate youth.

Abiodun noted that some of the suspects were later said to have been arrested by policemen from Igueben Police Division, who responded to a distress call.

“They attacked a church at Ebelleduring the crossover night, destroyed church property and injured members of the church. One of them was arrested by members of the church and handed over to the police.

“While others were trying to escape from the scene, the police intercepted them and they have all made statements in connection with the case. As we speak, some members of the church are receiving treatment in the hospital,” Abiodun added.

Meanwhile, the suspects denied any involvement in the attack.

Confessing before newsmen, one of them, Adodo, who was said to have been found with bottle of alcohol, claimed to have bought the drink for his father.

He said, “I was arrested in a hospital. As I was coming from my house, I bought a bottle of wine to give to my father in the evening. As I was going home, a man met me and asked me if I wanted to drink inside the church and I told him that I wanted to give the drink to my father. They said that I caused the fight, but I did not; the church members beat me up and I fainted. I did not come near the church.

However, the PPRO said, “as soon as we are through with investigations, they will be charged to court. The era of impunity is over. You are aware that the command has zero tolerance for cultism.

“We will not spare them (cultists); this is a new year. We want to advise other cult members to denounce their membership of the various secret cults. That is the best way to go in this new year.”

“The matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and the suspects would also be charged to court,” the police spokesperson added.