They are relatively young and fall within the bracket of ages 12 and 15 but despite their innocent and fragile looks, they belong to a cult group known as the “koboko squad”, notorious for harassing residents of Makurdi town.
Their arrest goes to show the level cultism and occultic practices are rooted in parts of Benue state.
The cult group “koboko squad”
The eight leaders of this group among whom is a teenage girl referred to as “koboko queen” were within the week nabbed by men of the Benue State Police Command at Nyongun village in Wadata area of the Benue State capital at the peak of the initiation ceremony of new members into the gang.
According to the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Assistant Superintendent of Police Ejike Alaribe, the group had also planned a reprisal attack on a rival cult group after the initiation ceremony.
But the timely intervention of the Police averted what would have amounted to another bloody clash few days after a similar attack led to the death of some persons at Aliade in Gwer local government area of the state.
The arrest of these youngsters some of whom are primary school pupils with a few others in Junior Secondary classes is a pointer to the level evil and anti social practices have virtually taken root in Benue society thereby threatening the peace and safety of inhabitants of a state that prides itself as the most peaceful in northern Nigeria.
There is no gainsaying that the arrest of these gangsters has opened a new vista in the fight against violent crime and all forms of criminality in Benue state.
The Police and security agencies in the state must now come to terms with the fact that it’s searchlight must be beamed even to those innocent looking kids who outwardly can hardly hurt a fly but become deadly after congregating under oath and ingestion of concoctions that catapults them beyond the ordinary.
The story of these youngsters as narrated by them is indeed soul touching and heart rendering considering their ages and their obvious drift.
Narrating the history and modus operandi to journalists at the Benue State Police Command Headquaters, leader of the group and 14 year old Itsa Emmanuel, disclosed that they were motivated to form the gang in Wadata, known as haven for cultists, by a yet to be identified young man who he said also drew up a guideline and modus operandi for members of the gang.
According to him, membership of the cult group is drawn from youngsters who must be of primary and junior secondary school ages.
He said the initiation of new members into the “koboko cult” entails the consumption of a concoction prepared from hard spirit and alcohol and some other materials and the pouring of libation.
Itsa said members also consume the stuff at their gathering to enable them feel high and become bold enough to undertake any assignment.
He disclosed that they gather each day at their meeting points to gyrate after which they move into the streets ready for any action and sometimes for a showdown with rival groups or gang that they have scores to settle with.
He disclosed that they’ve over the time initiated new members into the cult but lamented that it was their quest to gain relevance in their neighborhood and the society that forced them into establishing the cult group to counter various others that exist in the Wadata area of the town.
When asked if their parents were aware of their membership of the group and their nefarious activities in the town, he said their parents were unaware stressing that the rules of the group stipulates punishment for anyone caught divulging the activities of the group.
He pleaded for leniency on the premise that they would quit the cult group and also ensure its disbandment.
Their arrest goes to show the level cultism and occultic practices are rooted in parts of Benue state.
The cult group “koboko squad”
The eight leaders of this group among whom is a teenage girl referred to as “koboko queen” were within the week nabbed by men of the Benue State Police Command at Nyongun village in Wadata area of the Benue State capital at the peak of the initiation ceremony of new members into the gang.
According to the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Assistant Superintendent of Police Ejike Alaribe, the group had also planned a reprisal attack on a rival cult group after the initiation ceremony.
But the timely intervention of the Police averted what would have amounted to another bloody clash few days after a similar attack led to the death of some persons at Aliade in Gwer local government area of the state.
The arrest of these youngsters some of whom are primary school pupils with a few others in Junior Secondary classes is a pointer to the level evil and anti social practices have virtually taken root in Benue society thereby threatening the peace and safety of inhabitants of a state that prides itself as the most peaceful in northern Nigeria.
There is no gainsaying that the arrest of these gangsters has opened a new vista in the fight against violent crime and all forms of criminality in Benue state.
The Police and security agencies in the state must now come to terms with the fact that it’s searchlight must be beamed even to those innocent looking kids who outwardly can hardly hurt a fly but become deadly after congregating under oath and ingestion of concoctions that catapults them beyond the ordinary.
The story of these youngsters as narrated by them is indeed soul touching and heart rendering considering their ages and their obvious drift.
Narrating the history and modus operandi to journalists at the Benue State Police Command Headquaters, leader of the group and 14 year old Itsa Emmanuel, disclosed that they were motivated to form the gang in Wadata, known as haven for cultists, by a yet to be identified young man who he said also drew up a guideline and modus operandi for members of the gang.
According to him, membership of the cult group is drawn from youngsters who must be of primary and junior secondary school ages.
He said the initiation of new members into the “koboko cult” entails the consumption of a concoction prepared from hard spirit and alcohol and some other materials and the pouring of libation.
Itsa said members also consume the stuff at their gathering to enable them feel high and become bold enough to undertake any assignment.
He disclosed that they gather each day at their meeting points to gyrate after which they move into the streets ready for any action and sometimes for a showdown with rival groups or gang that they have scores to settle with.
He disclosed that they’ve over the time initiated new members into the cult but lamented that it was their quest to gain relevance in their neighborhood and the society that forced them into establishing the cult group to counter various others that exist in the Wadata area of the town.
When asked if their parents were aware of their membership of the group and their nefarious activities in the town, he said their parents were unaware stressing that the rules of the group stipulates punishment for anyone caught divulging the activities of the group.
He pleaded for leniency on the premise that they would quit the cult group and also ensure its disbandment.
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