Operatives attached to Oghara Division in Delta State Police Command have arrested a 39-year-old suspected cultist and member of Aro Bagger Confraternity, Charles Debi-Abate, in connection with the murder of Destiny Idi, aged 27, by some suspected cultists.
Idi, of Ovade Community at Ovie Road Ogharafe, was murdered on Saturday, August 5, 2023.
The suspect, said to be from Oghara, was residing in Mosagar before his arrest.
Confirming the suspect’s arrest, the police spokesman in the command, DSP Bright Edafe, said that it followed the order by the Commissioner of Police, Wale Abass, that the recently deployed Divisional Police Officer, Oghara Division, CSP Olasunkanmi Musiliu, should unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing and arrest the perpetrators.
According to the PPRO, “the DPO led policemen attached the Division’s surveillance Anti-Crime Patrol Team, embarked on a discreet investigation and trailed the mastermind of the act.
“At about 1335hrs (1:35pm) on the same day, while acting on an eyewitness account of the murder of the victim, the team stormed one hotel in Oghara (name withheld) and arrested one Charles Debi-Abate, ‘m,’ aged 39, a member Aro Bagger Confraternity…
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the said suspect was part of the syndicate that murdered one Onyekachi Chibuzor a.k.a ‘Odogwu’, aged 42, on July 28.”
Edafe said further that the suspect had been involved in numerous cult-related attacks on perceived opponents in Oghara.
He added: “The suspect, though denied being part of the gang that murdered the said Solomon Idi, mentioned the duo of Onyeka and Paul (both surnames unknown) as those responsible for the murder. On August 9, at about 1130 hours (11:30am), the suspect led the operatives to the premises of the said Onyeka and Paul, but the team met their absence.
“On a thorough search of their premises, two English pump action guns, 20 live cartridges, and one GLK Benz SUV with registration number RBC-995-DG were recovered. Suspect and exhibits are in custody while manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.”
