The Delta State Police Command has arrested 16 suspected cultists and recovered four firearms, live cartridges, ammunition, axes and other incriminating exhibits in separate intelligence-led operations across the state as part of its ongoing campaign against cultism and violent crime.
The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Asaba by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, saying the operations were carried out by operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU).
According to the statement, the first operation took place at about 2:00 a.m. on Friday when police operatives, acting on credible intelligence, raided a suspected criminal hideout at Amukpe in Sapele Local Government Area.
During the raid, the police arrested eight suspects identified as Lucky Naset, 30; Ochuko Midwest, 27; Samuel Oghene, 29; Michael Mmadu, 35; Dennis Philip, 28; Goodluck Onujenya, 30; Ovie Royal, 25; and Divine Otemu, 22.
The police said all the suspects are believed to be members of the Aiye Confraternity.
A search of the hideout reportedly led to the recovery of three locally fabricated pistols, six live cartridges, eight rounds of live ammunition of different calibres, two axes, two suspected cannabis grinders, one bottle containing a suspected illicit substance and other exhibits believed to be linked to criminal activities.
The command said preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects are connected to cult-related activities within the Sapele axis, adding that efforts are ongoing to arrest other members of the syndicate and recover additional weapons.
In a separate operation carried out later the same day at about 11:30 a.m., police operatives arrested another eight suspects over their alleged involvement in a cult-related attack in Illabor Community, Ika North East Local Government Area.
The statement identified four of the suspects as Ifeanyi Emeka, 25; Hope Sunday, 24; Francis Onyechiwalla, 23; and Chinedu Joseph, 25, noting that they were arrested in connection with the alleged attack on a male victim whose identity was withheld. The victim was reportedly attacked with a cut-to-size gun.
According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly confessed to being members of the Eiye Confraternity. The suspects remain in custody while investigations continue to establish their involvement in other cult-related offences and to apprehend other members of the group.
Commending the operatives for the successful operations, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to dismantling criminal gangs and cult groups across the state.
He urged residents to continue providing credible and timely information to the police, assuring the public that the command would sustain intelligence-driven operations aimed at ensuring the safety and security of lives and property throughout Delta State.
