•Arrest cultists for alleged killing of rivals
Three suspected members of a kidnap gang were killed by operatives of Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime squad in Delta State Police Command, while two AK-47 rifles, three pump-action guns and 62 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from them.
Also arrested were 43 suspected cultists alleged of involvement in the death of four members of a rival cult group.
The state Commissioner of Police, Ari Mohammed Ali made this known on Thursday, March 17, 2022, during a press briefing at the police headquarters in Asaba.
This made the Commissioner of Police to warn that the Command would not relent in the fight against kidnapping and cultism, and was more ready to identify, raid, arrest and prosecute anyone found wanting.
Speaking on the kidnap suspects, Ali said that the operatives, who acted on intelligence gathered went after the syndicate operating within Sapele, Oghara and Abraka axes on March 15, at about 2pm.
The kidnappers were reportedly trailed to their hideout in Oghara where three of them were neutralized.
The police commissioner also said that 43 suspected cultists were arrested after a cult clash between Eiye and Arobaga confraternities in Jesse community, Ethiope West Local Government Area on March 14 during which four rival cultists were killed.
“I immediately directed the Command’s State Anti-Cultism Unit, Dragon Patrol, Eagle-net special squad and Safe Delta Patrol teams to Jesse town with a view of ensuring that sanity is immediately restored in the Community,” the police commissioner stated.
Consequently, he added, three members of Arobaga confraternity, identified as Victor John, Nelson Friday and Festus Friday, and alleged of killing the four members of Eiye cult group, were arrested.
Ali assured that sanity had been restored in the community while Investigation would continue.
He also said that he had ordered an intensive raid on suspected cultists hideouts by Divisional Police Officers in their areas of responsibilities as part of measures to forestall any further breakdown of law and order in any part of the state.
This led to a total arrest of 40 suspected cultists by tthe DPO ‘A’ Division, Warri, who led a combined teams of Police/Vigilante Patrol teams to carry out intensive raid at Ogedengbe and Hausa quarters, as well as the state Anti-Cultism unit and raiders’ squad.
CP Ali urged parents and guardians to monitor their wards and caution them to shun all forms of criminality, as anyone found wanting would be arrested and prosecuted.
