Students arrested for having charms, alcohol at Children's Day celebration

Officials suspect the students are members of secret cults, said to be mushrooming in high schools

Five secondary school students were on Sunday arrested at the venue of the National Children's Day Celebration in Abeokuta, Ogun State, held at the Moshood Abiola Stadium for being in possession of charms and intoxicating wines.

The arrest of the culprits were effectef by officials of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC), following a search on them as hundreds of students were trooping into the stadium to be part of the celebration.

Four of the arrested students, whose names were withheld by the authorities, were from Rev Kuti Memorial Grammar School, while one came from Lantoro Grammar School, Abeokuta.

On enquiry, the suspects could not give satisfactory answer to the exhibits found on them, but admitted that they came to the stadium to be part of the celebration. They were, however, whisked away for further interrogation.

As at the time of this reports, the arrested students, whose ages range between 14 and 17 years, were still in custody of the authorities, as suspicion thickened that they might be members of secret cults now mushrooming in high schools.

Contacted, NSCDC's spokesperson, Olanrewaju Kareem, confirmed the arrest, explaining that the students they were found with various charms and alcohol while in school uniforms.

Mr. Kareem said on interrogation, the culprits could not give satisfactory explanation on the exhibits found on them.

"From investigations conducted so far, they may likely be cultists," Mr. Kareem said. "But investigation is still ongoing and we are equally working in conjunction with Ministry of Education to get rid of crimes from students