The Delta State Police Command has arrested 95 suspected cultists in four locations across the state, recovering firearms, ammunition and suspected cult regalia.
The operations, conducted on Thursday, October 15, followed a directive by the Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale, as part of efforts to curb cultism and other criminal activities.
According to the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, the largest number of arrests was recorded at a hotel along Abraka Road, Asaba, where operatives of the Department of Operations, Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and Command Anti-Cultism Unit (CACU) raided an anniversary gathering of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity (SVC), also known as Aro Bagger.
The raid resulted in the arrest of 67 people, comprising 55 men and 12 women. Recovered at the venue were two pump-action guns, a locally fabricated cut-to-size gun, 10 live cartridges, five expended shells, 11 branded cult caps and two cult jackets.
In a separate operation in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, RRS operatives arrested 15 suspected members of the same confraternity, comprising 14 men and one woman.
At Jeremy Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area, police operatives, working with local civilian anti-cultism volunteers, raided a suspected criminal hideout and arrested three suspects identified as John Pius, 32; Oghene Ochuko, 28; and Akinbule Godstime, 24. Their alleged accomplices reportedly fled the scene.
The operatives recovered two locally made pistols, live ammunition, cult caps and protective charms.
Another operation at Jeddo Community in Okpe Local Government Area led to the arrest of 10 male suspects, bringing the total number of arrests across the four locations to 95.
Edafe said the operations yielded five firearms, 12 live rounds of ammunition and seven expended cartridges, alongside suspected cult insignia and other items.
He said the suspects remained in custody as investigations continued.
Edafe reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating cultism and denying criminal groups safe havens in the state. He added that the Commissioner of Police had directed Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers to intensify efforts to track down other suspected cult members and prevent further criminal activities.
