Police nab 95 suspected cultists, recover arms in Delta

Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested 95 suspected cultists across various locations in the state.

The detectives also recovered 2 pump-action guns, 1 locally fabricated cut-to-size gun and 2 locally made pistols, alongside 12 live cartridges and 7 expended cartridges.

According to a statement by the state police public relations officer, SP Bright Edafe, on Friday, the arrests followed coordinated operations by the Department of Operations, Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and Command Anti-Cultism Unit (CACU) across Asaba, the state capital, Ika South, Ughelli South, and Okpe local government areas on Thursday.

The statement said, acting on credible intelligence that suspected members of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity (SVC), also known as Aro Bagger, had assembled at a hotel in Abraka axis of Asaba for an alleged cult anniversary celebration, a combined team of operatives from the various units raided the premises and arrested 67 suspects, comprising 55 males and 12 females.

The operation led to the recovery of 2 pump-action guns, 1 locally fabricated cut-to-size gun, 10 live cartridges, 5 expended cartridges, 11 caps bearing suspected cult insignia and 2 branded cult jackets.

In a related operation at Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, operatives of RRS Agbor Sector arrested 15 additional suspects, comprising 14 males and 1 female, with items suspected to be linked to the same Supreme Vikings Confraternity (SVC).

READ ALSO: ‘Yahoo Yahoo boys’ to face same punishment as cultists, kidnappers in Edo

Similarly, the statement added that 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 3 suspects.

They are 32-year-old John Pius, Oghene Ochuko, 28, and Akinbule Godstime, 24, while others fled.

Two locally made pistols, two live cartridges, two expended cartridges, two caps bearing suspected cult insignia and suspected charms were recovered.

In another operation at Jeddo Community, Okpe Local Government Area, SP Edafe stated that 10 additional male suspects were arrested in connection with suspected cult activities.

The suspects and exhibits are in police custody, while investigations are ongoing.

The state Commissioner of Police, Samuel E. Erale, 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.