Benin makes several arrests after religious sect kills 8 people

By Aurore Bonny

DOUALA, Cameroon - Authorities in Benin have arrested the guru and leaders of the Azael Awouignan religious sect following the weekend killing of two police officers and six civilians in the Savalou commune, local media reported Monday.

Mesmin Kpodekon and his faithful leaders were captured Sunday evening following a search notice issued by the police, reports said.

"The escape of Mesmin Kpodekon, the pastor of the church Azael, was not long. He was arrested on the night of Sunday, January 30 by elements of the Republican Police," reported the Fraternite media outlet.

Kpodekon and his partners will be tried for instigating deadly attacks that resulted in eight deaths and several injured in the locality of Kogandji, it said.

The tragedy occurred after several reports of acts of violence and destruction of property by followers of the sect.

They were authorized by their guru to act in this manner in preparation for the end of the world prophesied by Kpodekon, according to Republican Police spokesman Roger Tawes.

The population alerted the police in December 2021 about the intentional injuries, death threats, crop thefts and destruction of property carried out by the Azael sect, which had been established for several years in Savalou, he said during a press conference Sunday.

On Jan. 24, a pregnant woman was seriously violated and molested by followers of the religious group while the sect members did not respond to multiple summonses from the police, according to Tawes.

The police went to the sect's headquarters and found violent and drug-addicted cultists who refused to comply, attempted to burn down a police station and blocked the police, he added.

Tawes also said the drama started Saturday during a special police operation in which two officers who were trying to reason with the cultists were kidnapped and killed by them.

Other police officers ran after them and returned fire in an ambush that resulted in the deaths of six people, according to Tawes.

He assured that the security forces are working to secure the population and find the other troublemakers.