By Peter Omopo
The Delta State Police Command has arrested 95 suspected cultists and recovered five firearms, 12 live cartridges and seven expended cartridges during coordinated operations across four local government areas of the state.
The arrests were made on Thursday, October 15, in Asaba, Ika South, Ughelli South and Okpe local government areas as part of efforts to tackle cultism and related violent crimes.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, saying the operations involved the Department of Operations, Rapid Response Squad and Command Anti-Cultism Unit.
According to the statement, the largest operation took place at a hotel along Abraka Road in Asaba, where 67 suspects, comprising 55 men and 12 women, were arrested during an alleged anniversary gathering of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity, also known as Aro Bagger.
Police said the items recovered at the venue included two pump action guns, a locally fabricated cut to size gun, 10 live cartridges, five expended cartridges, 11 caps bearing suspected cult insignia and two branded cult jackets.
In a related operation in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad arrested 15 additional suspects, comprising 14 men and one woman, over their suspected links to the same confraternity.
Three other suspects were arrested during a raid on an alleged cult hideout in Jeremy Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area.
The suspects were identified as John Pius, 32; Oghene Ochuko, 28; and Akinbule Godstime, 24. The operation was carried out by the Command Anti-Cult Unit’s Ovwian-Aladja Sector in collaboration with a civilian anti-cult group.
The police said officers recovered two locally made pistols, two live cartridges, two expended cartridges, two caps bearing suspected cult insignia and suspected charms during the raid. Other suspected cultists reportedly fled the scene.
In another operation at Jeddo Community in Okpe Local Government Area, 10 male suspects were arrested over alleged involvement in cult activities.
The command said all 95 suspects and the recovered exhibits were in custody, while investigations into the cases continued.
The Commissioner of Police, Samuel Erale, commended the officers involved in the operations and directed area commanders, divisional police officers and tactical commanders to intensify the crackdown on cult groups across the state.
Eralе warned that the command would not tolerate cult-related activities capable of threatening public peace and urged residents to provide credible information to assist security operations.
