Crime
Edo Police nab notorious cult leader, expose link to internet fraud syndicate
Edo State police operatives have apprehended Osakpolor Edebor, a 32-year-old alleged leader of a violent cult group, following his involvement in a series of heinous crimes and a dramatic escape that led him to a fraudulent operation in Auchi.
Edebor, who was reportedly on the police’s wanted list, was arrested in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area, during a raid on a suspected “yahoo yahoo academy” — an internet fraud training center.
His capture marks a breakthrough in the ongoing effort to curb cult-related violence and cybercrime in the state.
Edebor is accused of orchestrating an attack on one Cyril at Uwelu Market, Benin City, where the victim was gruesomely beheaded in a revenge operation.
According to police investigations, the attack was part of a broader conflict between rival confraternity groups, which has claimed dozens of lives in Edo State.
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After the killing, Edebor reportedly fled Benin City and sought refuge in Auchi. There, he allegedly joined a network of internet fraudsters, blending into their operations to evade detection.
It was gathered that Edebor’s arrest followed a police raid on the fraudulent operation in Auchi, where members of the “yahoo yahoo” gang were embroiled in a dispute over N6 million in proceeds.
Edebor admitted to participating in a violent confrontation over the withheld funds, which ultimately drew law enforcement to the gang’s hideout.
“It was during our custody that the police linked me to the cult case in Benin City,” Edebor confessed. He admitted his role in Cyril’s death, claiming it was an act of vengeance for the murder of a fellow cult member known as Lagbaja.
The Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Mr. Umoru Ozigi, confirmed Edebor’s capture and revealed that other members of his gang, currently at large, have been identified. Ozigi assured the public that efforts are underway to bring them to justice.
He also commended residents for their cooperation and intelligence reports, which have been instrumental in combating cultism and related crimes.
The arrest of Edebor underscores the police’s intensified efforts to dismantle violent cult groups and their emerging links to cybercrime, a growing menace in Edo State.