By Augustine Ehikioya
Moving against crimes and criminality, Police officials in Delta State have arrested a total of 37 suspects for armed robbery, cult activities and baby factory operation.
While three women were rescued from the baby factory, cult initiation process was also thwarted in the State.
A statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Command, DSP. Bright Edafe, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA), said that 1 fabricated AK47 Rifle, and 3 locally made guns were also recovered.
It reads “On 11/7/2022, the Area Commander Asaba, received intelligence on some suspected cultists hibernating somewhere in Mile 5, a boundary between Oshimili North and Oshimili South Local Government Area (LGA) and planning to attack innocent citizens in the area.
“The Area Commander alerted the Commissioner of Police, CP Ari Muhammed Ali, who ordered a massive raid in the area. A combined team comprising of Raiders Squad, operatives from GRA Division and Area Command Asaba, led by the Area Crime officer, SP Kufre Udofia, stormed the hideout and arrested ten (10) suspects, recovered one fabricated AK47 rifle, charms, fake Vigilante ID card, and AC&DC black ice confraternity regalias.”
The statement said investigation is still ongoing on the matter.
On the baby factory, it said “The Command gathered information that there is a baby factory located somewhere in Obodogba community, Okpanam. Acting on this information, on 10/7/2022, at about 0730hours, operatives of the State Investigation Department stormed their den in Okpanam community, Oshimili North LGA, rescued three pregnant women, and two suspects; Promise Ejogu ‘m’ age 25yrs and Aruna Sulieman ‘m’ age 29yrs were arrested.
“One of the Suspects, Promise Ejogu, is a brother to the ring leader of the syndicate who engages in sexual activities with these women to get them pregnant.
“They are currently in custody while effort is on to arrest the other members of the syndicate,” it stated.
For the cult activities in the State, the statement said “On 10/7/2022 at about 0130hrs, The DPO Ibusa Police Station got information that men of Black Axe Confraternity, also known as ‘AYES’, were having their initiation ceremony at Zion Road Ibusa.
“The Commissioner of Police directed a joint team of State Anti-Cult (SACU), Ibusa Division, and local vigilantes who swung into action, raided their hideout, arrested twenty-five male suspects, recovered three Aye confraternity regalias, one military vest, a pair of aye confraternity stockings, three cut-to-size locally made guns, four live cartridges, a gallon of substances suspected to be liquid hard drugs, four vehicles, and four motorcycles, nvestigation is on going,” it stated.