The police in Anambra State, South-east Nigeria, said they have killed a suspected leader of a deadly cult group in Nkpor, a community in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.

The police spokesperson in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, said two members of the cult group were also arrested.

Mr Ikenga, a deputy superintendent of police, said the incident happened on Tuesday when police operatives busted their hideout in the area.

The police spokesperson said the raid of the suspects’ hideout followed receipt of “credible intelligence.”

He gave the names of the suspects as Caleb Nwankwo, 22, Katchi Nwolisa 23, and Freedom Okechukwu, the leader, who was killed by the police.

Mr Ikenga said the suspects, on sighting the operatives, started shooting indiscriminately in an attempt to escape the scene.

He said “the police engaged the armed hoodlums in a gun duel,” which resulted in the killing of the cult leader, Mr Okechukwu, before the arrest of the two others who sustained gunshot wounds.

“They all confessed to be members of Viking Confraternity and identified the late Okechukwu as their leader,” Mr Ikenga stated.