Seventeen religious sects have been shut down in northern cabinda province, as part of a local government operation that started early this month.
The sects closed down are on a list of 57 unregistered religious groupings that have been identified for ban.
According to a press release from Cabinda provincial Council's third extraordinary session held on Tuesday, six leaders of sect are under arrest for backsliding.
The provincial council also noted that apart from being illegal, many of these sects indulge in unauthorised modern and traditional medicine which often puts people's life at risk.