The Police Command in Anambra State has arrested two members of a vigilante outfit in the state over their alleged attempt to kill five farmers working at Igbariam Farm Settlement in Anambra East Local Government Area of the state and use them for sacrifice.

The suspects were apprehended by policemen attached to the Otuocha Divisional Police Station as they allegedly dragged their victims to the dreaded Nengo Akpakwu Ifite Nteje Shrine for the purpose of sacrificing them to the deity.

According to a press release made available to journalists in Awka, a gang of nine persons allegedly invaded the house of one Paul Obiefuna in the farm, where he was busy working with his two sons and two labourers he hired to work for him and manhandled them.

They later dragged them to the shrine and tried to kill and use them for sacrifice before the police came to their rescue.

At the time of their rescue, the victims had already been inflicted with matchet wounds on their bodies.

Narrating their ordeal to reporters, Mr. Paul Obiefuna said: “I was working in my farm with two of my sons and two labourers when the armed gang numbering nine rounded us up and without any word bound and took us to the shrine where they humiliated us and were about to kill us when police arrived and rescued us.

“The nine-man gang came with various kinds of weapons, including guns, matchettes and sticks. They stripped us of our belongings, including N250,000 cash, phones, cloths and other items. I thank God for using one of my sons, who escaped during the operation, to contact the relevant authorities who worked hard to save our lives as we were almost laid to be used for sacrifice.”

On his part, Obiefuna’s son, Mr. Chinedu Obiefuna, said they were forced to swear never to reveal what happened to them, or they would die.

He urged security operatives to arrest other members of the gang that are still at large with a view to bringing them to book.

Speaking on the issue, Anambra State Police Commissioner, Mr. Hosea Karma, warned that the command would not spare anybody found committing any crime in the state and charged residents to report cases of attacks to the nearest police station for quick response.

He warned against the use of human blood for sacrifice and assured that those involved would be made to face the full weight of the law.

Karma noted that the purpose of setting up vigilante groups in various communities in the state was to complement the efforts of the police and not to intimidate people.

He warned noted that anyone under the guise of a vigilante operative without the approval of the traditional ruler and the president general of the community under the supervision of the Divisional Police Officer of the area was embarking on illegal business, saying that such a person would be treated as a criminal.

The traditional ruler of Igbariam, Igwe Nkeliuwa Nkeli, also called on the relevant authorities to unravel the mystery behind the attack in his community with a view of bringing the culprits to book.

•Photo shows Anambra Police Commissioner, Hosea Karma.

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