Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, has intensified its crackdown on cult-related activities with the arrest of two additional suspected cult members as part of ongoing efforts to restore peace on campus following the killing of a student.
The latest arrests come in the wake of the June 11 murder of David Solomon, a 300-level Biochemistry student, within the university premises.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Lokoja, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Uredo Omale, said the suspects—Fidelis Atuluku and Monday Okolo, both 100-level students in the Department of Social Studies Education—were apprehended on campus on Tuesday following credible intelligence.
According to Omale, the duo were found in possession of charms and subsequently confessed to being members of the notorious Juris Confraternity.
“The students admitted that they were initiated into the cult group before gaining admission into PAAU,” she said.
She added that the suspects would be handed over to relevant law enforcement agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Reaffirming the institution’s zero-tolerance stance on cultism, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Salisu Usman vowed that the university would sustain its campaign against cult-related activities and other forms of criminality until normalcy is fully restored.
Describing Solomon’s murder as tragic and unacceptable, Usman said cult violence poses a serious threat to the university’s academic environment and core values.
He urged parents and guardians to pay closer attention to their children and wards, stressing the need to guide them away from negative influences that could lead to cult involvement.
The Vice-Chancellor also disclosed that the university had commenced the profiling of cult members willing to renounce their affiliation, sign undertakings, and embrace lawful conduct.
He said the amnesty window remains open for students who wish to voluntarily surrender through the Office of the Chief Security Officer or the Dean of Student Affairs.
According to him, plans are underway to organise a formal renunciation ceremony for individuals prepared to publicly denounce cultism and commit to a responsible lifestyle.
Usman commended security agencies, religious leaders, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders for their support in the fight against cultism.
He further urged students to cooperate with the university management in maintaining a safe, peaceful, and conducive learning environment.
The university management assured that investigations into Solomon’s murder were ongoing, adding that security surveillance across the campus had been significantly strengthened to prevent further incidents.
