The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has apprehended two individuals suspected of being cultists involved in 'one chance' operations in Imo State.
The NSCDC Commandant in Imo, Mr Matthew Ovye, disclosed this information while parading the suspects in Owerri on Wednesday.
According to Ovye, the Command's Rapid Response Squad arrested the suspects along Okigwe road, Owerri. They were allegedly attempting to forcefully dispossess a second-year student of the Imo State University of her belongings. Ovye stated that the suspects used charms on their unsuspecting victim and made away with her belongings before his men intervened.
He explained, "They are locally called 'One Chance People'. They usually use mini buses to disguise themselves as commercial commuters to carry out their nefarious activities using charms which we also recovered from them."
The Commandant assured that the suspects are currently under investigation and will be prosecuted in due course. He said, "We're currently investigating them and we will prosecute them in due course because they are sabotaging the efforts of the government and contributing to insecurity."
Ovye urged the people of Imo to exercise caution when boarding buses and to report any suspicious individuals to the appropriate authorities. He reassured the general public that the NSCDC is collaborating with other security agencies through intelligence sharing to curb this disturbing trend.
The 20-year-old victim, simply identified as Neme, narrated her ordeal. She said she was on her way to school at about 8.00 a.m. on Monday when a minibus stopped in front of her and two men alighted from it. She recounted, "They asked me to remove my bangle claiming it is a symbol of their cult group and to buy them something to appease them but I made a call and they immediately fled."