The Delta State Police Command has arrested 95 suspected cultists and recovered five firearms, 12 live cartridges and seven expended cartridges during coordinated operations across four local government areas. The arrests were made on Thursday, October 15, in Asaba, Ika South, Ughelli South and Okpe local government areas as part…...
The Delta State Police Command has arrested 95 suspected cultists and recovered five firearms, 12 live cartridges and seven expended cartridges during coordinated operations across four local government areas.
The arrests were made on Thursday, October 15, in Asaba, Ika South, Ughelli South and Okpe local government areas as part of efforts to curb cultism and related violent crimes.
The command disclosed this in a statement on Friday, October 16, by its Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe.
“In compliance with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel E. Erale, psc, mnips, to intensify intelligence-led operations against cultism and related violent crimes, operatives of the Command have arrested ninety-five (95) suspected cultists and recovered five (5) firearms, comprising two (2) pump-action guns, one (1) locally fabricated cut-to-size gun and two (2) locally made pistols, alongside twelve (12) live cartridges and seven (7) expended cartridges. 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 statement reads.
According to the statement, the operations involved the Department of Operations, Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and Command Anti-Cultism Unit (CACU), acting on intelligence about suspected cult activities.
The largest operation took place at a hotel along Abraka Road in Asaba, where police arrested 67 suspects, comprising 55 men and 12 women, during an alleged anniversary gathering of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity, also known as Aro Bagger.
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Items recovered at the premises included two pump-action guns, a locally fabricated cut-to-size gun, 10 live cartridges, five expended cartridges, 11 caps bearing suspected cult insignia and two branded cult jackets.
In a related operation in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, RRS operatives arrested 15 additional suspects, comprising 14 men and one woman, over suspected links to the same confraternity.
Police also arrested three suspects during a raid on a suspected cult hideout in Jeremy Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area.
The suspects were identified as John Pius, 32; Oghene Ochuko, 28; and Akinbule Godstime, 24. The operation was conducted by the Command Anti-Cult Unit, Ovwian-Aladja Sector, in collaboration with a civilian anti-cult group.
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Two locally made pistols, two live cartridges, two expended cartridges, two caps bearing suspected cult insignia and suspected charms were recovered, while other suspected cultists reportedly fled.
In another operation at Jeddo Community in Okpe Local Government Area, 10 additional male suspects were arrested over suspected cult activities.
The police said the suspects and recovered exhibits were in custody, adding that investigations were ongoing.
The Commissioner of Police, Samuel Erale, commended the operatives for the arrests and directed all area commanders, divisional police officers and tactical commanders to intensify operations against cult groups across the state.
He warned that the command would not tolerate cult-related activities capable of threatening public peace and urged residents to provide credible information to support police operations.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel E. Erale, psc, mnips, commended the operatives and directed all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and tactical commanders to intensify operations against cult groups across the State,” the statement said.
It added that 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.”
