Rita Enemuru, Reporting
THE Delta State Police Command has intensified its war against violent crime with the arrest of suspected cultists and an alleged gun peddler in separate operations that led to the recovery of a cache of firearms and ammunition.
The two operations, carried out in Aviara community and along the Asaba–Benin Expressway, were described as part of the Command’s renewed commitment to intelligence-led policing and community collaboration.
This was made available to Stonix News by the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe on Wednesday.
According to the statement signed SP Bright Edafe, the arrests followed credible intelligence and swift tactical responses by officers of the Command.
The first incident according to the statement, involved the arrest of two suspected members of the Eiye confraternity, identified as Donatus Odovo, 29, and Zachariah Okeh, 36, both of Aviara community, under the Oleh Division.
Edafe disclosed that the matter came to light after a resident reported a viral video showing alleged cult activity posted on a WhatsApp group known as “Real Men.”
The report was lodged at the Oleh Police Division on 25 October 2025.
Following the report, the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Keme Osuluku, deployed operatives to conduct discreet investigations into the online post.
Their findings pointed to Odovo, who was arrested on 26 October.
Further investigation led the police team to Okeh, who was alleged to be a cult leader in the same community.
Acting on a duly obtained search warrant, operatives stormed his residence, leading to the recovery of two locally made firearms.
Among the exhibits recovered were one locally made double-barrelled gun, one locally made single-barrelled gun, and six live cartridges.
The weapons were secured as evidence, while both suspects were taken into custody for questioning.
In a separate operation, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) made a breakthrough in intercepting a suspected gun runner, identified as 45-year-old Mordi Emmanuel, during a stop-and-search exercise on the Asaba–Benin Expressway.
The operation, which took place on 27 October 2025 at about 1:45 p.m., led to the discovery of a fabricated Beretta pistol with four live rounds hidden inside an envelope in the suspect’s vehicle, a Toyota RAV4 with registration number EPE 189 GN.
SP Edafe said the RRS Commander, CSP Nosa Alex, immediately ordered follow-up actions and obtained a search warrant to comb the suspect’s residence located at No. 74, Family Estate, Asaba.
During the search, police operatives discovered one pump-action shotgun with breech number 20-R-3921 and four live cartridges, all of which were seized and documented as exhibits.
The Police Public Relations Officer noted that the exhibits and the suspects are currently in custody as investigations continue to trace possible networks connected to the recovered arms.
