Ndudi Anyim.
The Delta State Police Command has arrested 18 suspected cultists, who have been terrorizing residents of Oviri community in Delta State.
Security Watch Africa reports that the suspects were arrested following the ongoing leadership crises in Oviri-Olomu community, where suspected cultists had attempted to murder indigenes of the community.
According to the Spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, Edafe Bright, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Otu-Jerwmi Police Division, Pius Eredei, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), led patrol team to Oviri community in a bid to stop the crisis and restore peace and order in the community.
“ Through cultivation of informant and discrete investigation, one Edijala Oghenero, 25, and 17 others all suspected to be cultists were arrested. One cut-to-size locally made gun, one expanded and one live cartridges, a battled axe, two cutlasses and fetish items were recovered,” he said.
In a related development, the Command has also arrested a suspected kidnapper and armed robber, Uduophori Emesiri, operating within the South-South region.
Bright said intelligence on the activities of the suspect has filtered to the Commander Eagle Net, a Unit of the Command, SP Usman Dimka.
“ Dimka mobilized Warri and Ughelli sectors of Eagle-Net teams which was led by DSP Inusa Danyaya to Delundi Hotel, Otor-Udu in Udu Local Government Area, which led to arrest of Uduophori Emesiri, aged 43.
“ One silver coloured automatic pump action, with four live cartridges, three expanded cartridges, a Lexus Jeep 330 black colour, Reg. No. KUJ 583 MS suspected to be stolen, one iphone, 11 Promo phone worth N550,000, one redmi android phone worth N400,000. The suspect was also in possession of an Anti-Cult group I.D card which investigation later revealed as fake. Investigation is still ongoing,” he stated.
Speaking on other arrests made by operatives of the Command, Bright said three drug peddlers also met their Waterloo.
He said: “ Patrol team from Sapele Division on stop and search sighted a motorcyclist who on sighting the patrol team turned his motor cycle in an attempt to escape, the Police men smartly went after him, the suspect highlighted from the motorcycle and ran into the bush, and abandoned a bag, on searching the bag, a cut-to-size double barrel gun, a bag containing two identity card of Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe Oghara, four ATM of various banks were recovered, the suspect also abandon one plasma TV tied on the motorcycle. Manhunt for the fleeing suspect is ongoing.
“ Use of hard drugs has been a major problem affecting Nigerian Youth, The Divisional Police Officer, Abraka division has been on the lookout for those that unlawfully sell these drugs to our youth with the goal to arrest and prosecute them. On, March 17, after discrete investigation, intelligence gathering and surveillance by men of Abraka division, A team of detectives led by ASP Collins Onya in conjunction with Abraka youths headed by their President Efe Don Kigho, arrested three chemist store owners.
“ The suspects, Nmoye Kenneth, 27, Ofeh Collins, 35, and Raymond Emeka, 33. deal on the sales of hard drugs and were found to be in possession of large quantities of the prohibited drugs such as Tramadol, Rohypnol, Sioinol, Diazepam. Investigation is ongoing to arrest their accomplices.”
The Command’s spokesperson noted that the successful arrests were made following the directive of the Commissioner of Police (CP), Ari Muhammed Ali, who has continued to demand more from DPOS and tactical commander in a bid to see that crime is reduced in Delta state.