Our reporter
The Edo State Police Command has arrested 21 secondary school students, aged between 13 and 17, after foiling a planned violent attack on a rival school in Benin City, a disturbing escalation in the rise of juvenile cultism across the State.
The students, all from Ogioma Public Secondary School, were intercepted on Wednesday after storming Osemwende Public Secondary School on motorcycles, allegedly intending to carry out an assault they had earlier threatened in a widely circulated voice note.
Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Loveworld Police Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, arrived at the school around 1:45 p.m., confronting the teenage suspects and preventing what police say could have resulted in serious harm to students and staff.
The police arrested 21 students, recovering four knives and a metal chain from the group, while others fled the scene. Investigators disclosed that the students had boasted of plans to “stage a war”, burn down the school and attack staff, threats that matched the weapons recovered.
The arrested suspects were arraigned in court: eight were remanded, while 13 were released to their parents or guardians on the condition that they appear in court on 28 November 2025.
Both school principals have been summoned for questioning as part of the widening investigation into how the students organised, armed themselves and mobilised a convoy to execute the foiled attack.
Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, expressed deep concern over the rising involvement of minors in violent cult-related activities, warning parents to pay closer attention to the behaviour and associations of their children.
“The safety of our schools is non-negotiable,” he said. “We urge parents, guardians and school authorities to work closely with the police to identify early warning signs, enforce discipline and prevent juvenile groups from slipping into criminality.”
The Command reiterated its commitment to the Nigeria Police Force Safe Schools Initiative, stressing that protecting pupils and restoring order in educational institutions remain top priorities.
As Edo grapples with a troubling new wave of teenage cultism, the arrests highlight both the scale of the challenge and the urgency of coordinated action to keep schools safe, before youthful bravado turns into tragedy.
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