The Delta State Police Command has arrested six suspected cultists in separate intelligence-led operations in Ika South and Aniocha North Local Government Areas, recovering four firearms, six live cartridges and other weapons.
The Police Public Relations Officer SP Bright Edafe, in a statement on Saturday, September 19, said that operations also led to the recovery of a battle axe, two cutlasses, mobile phones, a laptop, suspected illicit drugs and military camouflage items.
In the first operation, operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping Unit (SAKU), Sector III, Ubulu-Uku, acting on intelligence, arrested two suspected cultists at Alisheme Community, Ika South LGA, on September 18.
The suspects, identified as 18-year-old Destiny Okafor and 22-year-old Sunday Bryan, were allegedly linked to cultism and kidnapping-related activities.
During preliminary investigation, they reportedly admitted membership of the NBM Confraternity.
Police said one locally fabricated single-barrel gun, a battle axe, two cutlasses, mobile phones and a laptop were recovered from the suspects, who remain in custody as investigation continues.
In a separate operation at Issele-Uku, police arrested four suspected cultists and recovered two locally made pistols, a pump-action gun and six live cartridges.
The operation was conducted on September 15 after the Divisional Police Officer, Issele-Uku Division, received intelligence on the activities of suspected cultists around Ogboli Quarter and other parts of the town.
The DPO led a combined team of police anti-cult personnel, vigilantes, hunters and Forest Security operatives in a cordon-and-search operation which resulted in the arrests and recovery of the firearms.
Meanwhile, operatives of the Command Anti-Cult Unit (CACU), Asaba, intercepted a Toyota Sienna allegedly conveying suspected illicit drugs and military accoutrements.
According to the PPRO, the vehicle, a green Toyota Sienna with registration number KP 527 AAA, was intercepted around 4:50am on September 18 along a route from Onitsha towards Ondo State.
The driver, 45-year-old Isaac Urji from Abia State, was arrested after police searched the vehicle and recovered cartons of suspected Tramadol and other suspected illicit drugs, alongside military camouflage uniforms, boots and hats.
The Command said investigation had commenced to establish the source and intended destination of the items and identify other persons connected with the consignment.
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, Samuel E. Erale, said the command would sustain intelligence-led operations against kidnapping, cultism and the proliferation of illegal firearms in the state.
He urged residents to continue providing credible information to the police, assuring that such information would be treated with utmost confidentiality.
