Two suspected cult members have been arraigned before a Dutse Magistrates’ Court in Abuja over allegations of assaulting police officers, resisting arrest and threatening to kill law enforcement personnel during an attempted police invitation.
The defendants, Ogene Bright, 23, and Sunday Adamu, 25, were on Tuesday charged by the Nigeria Police Force with unlawful assembly, resisting arrest, causing grievous hurt and criminal intimidation of police officers.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offences were committed on July 17, 2026, when a police team led by ASP Tukur Abubakar, the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO3) of Gwagwa Division, visited Tasha Village in Abuja to invite the defendants and another suspect, Victor Adamu, who is currently at large, to the police station.
Prosecuting counsel, Ogehenekaro Agbodo, told the court that the invitation followed complaints from residents of Tasha Village alleging that the defendants had been terrorising members of the community.
The prosecution alleged that rather than honouring the police invitation, the suspects violently resisted arrest.
According to Agbodo, the suspect who remains at large allegedly attacked ASP Abubakar and inflicted injuries on him during the confrontation.
She further told the court that the defendants allegedly summoned other members of their suspected cult group, who joined in attacking the police officers and threatened to kill any officer who attempted to arrest their members.
The prosecution stated that additional police personnel were deployed on July 18, leading to the arrest of the two defendants, while the third suspect escaped.
Agbodo added that during police investigation, the defendants allegedly failed to provide satisfactory explanations regarding their actions.
She informed the court that the alleged offences contravene Sections 103, 171, 248 and 379 of the Penal Code.
In his ruling, Senior Magistrate Ibrahim Alkali admitted both defendants to bail in the sum of ₦2 million each, with two sureties each in like sum.
The court directed that the sureties must either be civil servants not below Grade Level 14 or reputable members of society with credible means of identification.
The matter was adjourned until September 14, 2026, for hearing.