Rita Enemuru, Reporting
POLICE in Delta State have arrested nine suspected cultists and recovered two locally made firearms, a live cartridge, a battle axe and quantities of suspected illicit drugs in separate operations spanning two communities, the Command announced on Wednesday.
In the first operation, operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping Unit (SAKU), Ubulu-Uku, acting on credible intelligence, executed a search warrant at premises along Ghana Quarters Street, Umuebu Road, Obiaruku, on 13 September.
The search yielded one locally fabricated single-barrelled gun, one live cartridge, suspected illicit drugs, a battle axe, mobile phones and a laptop computer.
Seven suspects were taken into custody: Wisdom Enede, 25; Ocheli Solomon, 42; Nnaji Godstime, 23; Izu Thankgod, 28; Kester Adishi, 31; Oghonogho Pentecost, 28; and Adishi Prince, 28.
During preliminary interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed to membership of the Vikings and Black Axe confraternities and gave statements concerning their alleged involvement in internet fraud, commonly known as “Yahoo Yahoo”.
Detectives are working to establish each suspect’s individual role, the source of the recovered firearm and any possible links to other criminal activity.
In a separate incident on 12 September, officers of the Onicha-Olona Division responded to reports of a cult-related attack on residents of Issele-Ikpitime Village.
The divisional patrol team was deployed and arrested Emmanuel Believe, 29, and Israel Nwaobi, 27, both of Issele-Ikpitime Village. One locally made cut-to-size gun was recovered.
The operatives also rescued a man who had sustained a gunshot wound during the attack and rushed him to hospital for treatment.
Efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest other members of the gang.
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel E. Erale, psc, mnips, has directed that the sources of the recovered firearms and other persons connected with the suspects be identified.
He warned against cult-related violence and the illegal possession of firearms, assuring that the Command would continue to act on credible intelligence to disrupt criminal activities across the state.
Sp. Bright Edafe, the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued in Asaba.
