Delta State Police Command has arrested two suspects, Donatus Odovo and Zechariah Okeh, for alleged membership of a cult group.
The suspects were arrested on Sunday, October 26, at about 8a.m. by operatives of Oleh Division.
Recovered were a locally-made double-barrelled gun, a locally-made single-barrel gun and six live cartridges during a execution of a search warrant at Okeh’s residence.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Delta Command, SP Bright Edafe, said in a statement that the arrest of the suspects followed a report by a resident Aviara community, under Oleh Division, on Saturday, October 25, at about 6p.m.
The resident had told the Divisional Police Officer of Oleh Division, CSP Keme Osuluku, that on Wednesday, October 22, at about 8:12a.m., a video depicting suspected Eiye Confraternity’s activity was posted on a WhatsApp group with ‘Real Men’ as identity.
This, the PPRO said, made the DPO to detail his operatives to carry out discreet investigation, with preliminary findings leading to the arrest of Odovo, aged 29, who was linked to the post.
“Follow-up investigation led to the arrest of Zachariah Okeh (male, 36), alleged to be an Eiye cult leader in Aviara,” SP Edafe stated, adding that the recovered exhibits had been secured, while the suspects were in police custody for further questioning.
Also, the Command’s Rapid Response Squad operatives on Monday, October 27, at about 1:45p.m., recovered a fabricated Beretta pistol with breech number 5182207, and four live rounds following interception of a Toyota RAV4 with registration EPE 189 GN while on stop-and-search duty along the Asaba-Benin Expressway,
The PPRO said that the operatives requested a routine check of the vehicle driven by a 45-year-old man, Mordi Emmanuel, residing at 74, Family Estate, Asaba, which he complied with.
The exhibits were reportedly found inside an envelope in the vehicle.
Edafe stated further: “Acting on the operational direction of the Rapid Response Squad Commander, CSP Nosa Alex, who coordinated the deployment and approved immediate follow-up actions, a team executed a duly-obtained search warrant at the suspect’s residence.
“The search yielded one pump-action shotgun with breech No. 20-R-3921, and four live cartridges from the house and premises. The exhibits and the suspect are in custody and investigation is ongoing.”
Following the successful operations, the Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, commended the vigilance of residents and the professionalism displayed by the officers involved.
He reaffirmed the Command’s zero tolerance for cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping, and the unlawful possession of firearms, restating the commitment to intelligence-led policing, community partnership, and strict respect for the law.
The Commissioner of Police urged members of the public to remain security-conscious and share timely, credible information with the police.
