Delta: Police arrest 32 suspects in crackdown on cultism

In its ongoing campaign against cultism, the Delta State Police Command has arrested 32 suspects and recovered firearms, ammunition, communication equipment, and illicit drugs in separate operations.

Acting on credible intelligence in the early hours of Tuesday, operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) arrested 25 suspects when they stormed a suspected cult initiation ground at Agbarho, where members of the Eiye Confraternity, allegedly linked to recent cult-related killings in Agbor, were planning further acts of violence and the initiation of new members.

According to a statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, on Wednesday, the operatives came under gunfire from some of the suspects upon arriving at the scene.

“The police team responded professionally, during which two of the suspects sustained gunshot injuries. The operation resulted in the arrest of 25 suspects, while several others fled the scene.

“Exhibits recovered during the operation include one pump-action shotgun and one cut-to-size firearm. The injured suspects are receiving medical treatment.”

In a related development, operatives of the Command’s Anti-Cult Unit raided a suspected criminal hideout in Azagba-Ogwashi on Monday, arresting seven suspected cultists.

They are Obore Ndubuisi, 26; Okafor Okene, 25; Odinigie Sunday, 26; Okohur Destiny, 21; Felix Abraham, 25; Aputa Israel, 27; and Okolie Chinonso Peter, 24.

The statement said exhibits recovered from them included one double-barrel gun, two live cartridges, quantities of substances suspected to be Indian hemp and Tramadol, as well as a walkie-talkie, adding that the suspects and exhibits are currently in police custody.