Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested 95 suspected cultists in coordinated raids on criminal hideouts across the state.
The operatives recovered five firearms, comprising two pump-action guns, one locally fabricated cut-to-size gun and two locally made pistols, alongside 12 live cartridges and seven expended cartridges.
A statement signed by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri on Saturday, noted that “the arrests followed coordinated operations by the Department of Operations, Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and Command Anti-Cultism Unit (CACU) across Asaba, Ika South, Ughelli South, and Okpe Local Government Areas on 15th October 2026”.
“The operations were in compliance with the directive of the State Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale to intensify intelligence-led operations against cultism and related violent crimes,” it added.
The statement read in part, “Acting on credible intelligence that suspected members of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity (SVC), also known as Aro Bagger, had assembled at a hotel along Abraka Road, Asaba, for an alleged cult anniversary celebration, a combined team of operatives from the Department of Operations, Rapid Response Squad, Asaba Sector and Command Anti-Cult Unit, Asaba Sector raided the premises and arrested sixty-seven (67) suspects, comprising fifty-five (55) males and twelve (12) females.
“The operation led to the recovery of two (2) pump-action guns, one (1) locally fabricated cut-to-size gun, ten (10) live cartridges, five (5) expended cartridges, eleven (11) caps bearing suspected cult insignia and two (2) branded cult jackets.
“In a related operation at Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, operatives of RRS Agbor Sector arrested fifteen (15) additional suspects, comprising fourteen (14) males and one (1) female, with items suspected to be linked to the same Supreme Vikings Confraternity (SVC).
“Similarly, following intelligence on a gathering of suspected members of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity (SVC) cult group at Jeremy Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area, operatives of Command Anti-Cult Unit, Ovwian-Aladja Sector, in collaboration with a civilian anti-cult group, raided a criminal hideout and arrested three (3) suspects identified as John Pius (32), Oghene Ochuko (28) and Akinbule Godstime (24), while others fled.
“Two (2) locally made pistols, two (2) live cartridges, two (2) expended cartridges, two (2) caps bearing suspected cult insignia and suspected charms were recovered.
“In another operation at Jeddo Community, Okpe Local Government Area, ten (10) additional male suspects were arrested in connection with suspected cult activities.
“The suspects and exhibits are in police custody, while investigations are ongoing”.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale, commended the operatives and directed all area commanders, divisional police officers and tactical commanders to intensify operations against cult groups across the state.
The commissioner warned that “the Command will not tolerate cult-related activities capable of threatening public peace and urged residents to support the Police with credible information”.