Delta Police arrest suspected cultists, armed robbers 

CITIZENS COMPASS —Delta State Police Command has intercepted a motorcyclist and passenger who were suspected to be cultists along the boundary between Onicha-Ugbo and Idumuje-Ugboko area of the State. 

The arrest was made on Saturday, September 16, 2023, at about 22.15hrs while men of Isselu-Uku Division patrol team were on routine stop and search duty. 

Citizens Compass reports that the arrest  followed a cult clash which claimed the lives of some people.

It was gathered that the suspects were subjected to a search during which one locally made pistol, dagger, two live cartridges, and some native charms were recovered from them. 

At press time, both suspects were in Police custody and the investigation had commenced according to the spokesperson, Delta State Police Command, Bright Edafe, in a statement on Monday. 

He said, “On 16/09/2022 at about 2215hrs, while men of Isselu-Uku Division patrol team were on routine stop and search duty along the boundary between Onicha-Ugbo and Idumuje-Ugboko, they intercepted an unregistered Qlink motorcycle conveying two male passengers. 

” They were subjected to a search during which one locally made pistol, two live cartridges, one dagger, and some native charms were recovered from them. Both Suspects are in custody and investigation is ongoing.

” Following a reported clash of two rival cult groups in Oghara community, Ethiope West LGA, where some persons were murdered, the Commissioner of Police Delta State CP Wale Abass deployed tactical teams to Oghara to complement the effort of the DPO to restore sanity in the area. Consequently, On 15/09/2023, at about 1930 hours, Raider’s operatives in a combined effort with raiders volunteers raided a black spot in Oghara and arrested one Gideon Emu Oboni  ‘m’ aged 23 years of Oghara. 

“The suspect during interrogation  stated that he is a member of Black Axe Confraternity and he led the operatives to the premises  of other members of his gang where three suspects namely; Jerry Omonode ‘m’   aged 27yrs, Wisdom Simeon  ‘m’ aged 27yrs,  Patrick  Friday  ‘m’ age 22yrs,  Blessing Ovuakpoya ‘m’  aged 23yrs,  Emonena Vincent ‘m’ aged 24yrs,  Eseverere Nelson ‘m’ aged 28yrs  and Abel Onos  ‘m’  aged 24yrs  all of back of Ibori road Ogharafe were arrested, and the following items were recovered;  two cut-to-size locally made guns, 12 cartridges, two battle axes, NBM berets,  two, calabash, cult regalia.

“CP Wale Abass while commending the officers, also advised members of the public to be wary of motorcycle riders conveying two or three male occupants as some of them operate in the guise of being okada riders and rob innocent persons of their belongings. 

“He noted that they could be dangerous, however, the command will do all it can to nip it in the bud before they could carry out their nefarious activities.”