By Austin Ogwuda
ASABA—SEVENTEEN persons, including a lawyer, have been arrested in Asaba, Delta State, over alleged cult activity.

The lawyer (names withheld), according to the State Police Command’s spokesman, Mr. Charles Muka, was implicated following the confession made by the cultists to the effect that they were recruited by him.

Muka, in a statement in Asaba yesterday, said “sixteen suspected cultists were arrested in Asaba on Sunday 24th October, 2010 at 10pm.Policemen from A Division received information that cultists were planning meeting along Summit road, Asaba, and promptly arrested them.

The suspects confessed membership of Gracious Faranari group and that a lawyer now in custody brought them to Asaba for the meeting.”

The PPRO added that “items recovered include a banner with the name of the group and they will soon appear in court”.

Early this month, 32 suspected cultists  were nabbed at Otoro Abraka while  going to Abbi town in Ndokwa West  for initiation party, while another group of cultists, numbering 64, was  rounded up at Issele-Mkpiteme in Aniocha North local government area of the state, barely 48 hours after the Otoro-Abraka incident.