Police nab suspected cultist in Delta, recover rifle 

CITIZENS COMPASS —Delta State Police Command has arrested a suspected cultist and recovered AK-47 rifle in the State. 

Spokesperson of the Command, DSP Bright Edafe who confirmed this to newsmen in a statement on Monday, August 28, 2023, said the operation took place over the weekend, at about 0600hours when a police patrol team attached to ‘C’ division Asaba in a combined effort with vigilantes. 

According to him, the team while on patrol around Second Niger Bridge sighted a young man carrying a sack bag but the suspect on noticing the police fled the scene leaving behind the sack bag. 

Explaining further, he said, “When the bag was searched, one AK-47 rifle was recovered and effort to arrest the fleeing suspect is ongoing.” He explained. 

Speaking further, Edafe said, “In an earlier development, on August 20, 2023, operatives of the Command De-coy squad acting on credible intelligence gathered on the activities of one Godfrey Tietie, a notorious cultist who has been terrorizing Oghara and environs, the operatives stormed his premises in a covert operation and arrested the said  Godfrey Tietie a.k.a  “Don Baby” of Oghara Town in Ethiope West LGA Delta State. 

“The 40-year-old male suspect was arrested at Ogorode Road by Texaco in Sapele and upon search, a locally made revolver pistol was recovered from him. Investigation revealed that the suspect is a member of Aiye confraternity and is also suspected to be a gun runner who supplies guns to cultists in Sapele, Oghara, and environs. Investigation is ongoing.”

Similarly, he said,” On 24/8/2023, at about 0245 hours, operatives of the Command’s Raiders squad led by DSP Akanya Agboga stormed a criminal hideout along Isa-Ogwashi-Uku Aniocha South LGA, where some suspected cultists were holding their initiation ceremony. 

” The suspects on sighting the police took to their heels in a different direction and escaped, upon search of the premises, one locally fabricated Berretta pistol, and four rounds of live ammunition were recovered.

” On Wednesday, August 16th, 2023, at about 1600hrs based on credible intelligence gathered over the activities of some criminal elements operating within Warri, Udu, Koko and proximate environs, the DPO Ekpan Division, CSP Aliyu Shaba, led the Surveillance Team and trailed the hoodlums to their hideout located at Aladja Grammar School in Aladja Town Udu Local Government. “However, upon sighting the police, the hoodlums took to their heels; a search was conducted immediately around the uncompleted building and a sack bag was found. 

” Upon searching the sack bag, the following items were recovered: one AK47 Rifle, one magazine loaded with seven (7) rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, one English pump action gun with three (3) live cartridges, and two cut-to-size Double Barrel Guns. 

” Efforts are on top gear to identify and arrest the said hoodlums. In a similar occurrence, on the 20th of August, 2023 at approximately 1509hrs, the DPO Ekpan received a phone call from one Alhaji (name withheld) of Warri Sapele Road. 

” It was revealed that some group of persons were sighted suspiciously within the yard. However, the civilian security/operatives in the yard flashed their torchlight on the suspected criminals who immediately fled and abandoned a sack.” Upon close look into the sack, two locally made single barrel guns, all detachable with 18 live cartridges. 

” The DPO detailed the men of the division to the scene, where firearms and ammunition were recovered and registered as exhibits. Efforts are on to trace and identify the hoodlums who are still at large.

” The Commissioner of Police Delta State, CP Wale Abass PSC urges members of the public particularly parents and guardians to pay close attention to their wards and discourage them from engaging in cultism and other vices. Crime does not pay and the command will do all it takes to ensure that crime does not thrive in the State. 

“The CP also appeals to members of the public to help the police with any useful, timely, and credible information that will help the command eradicate crime in the state.”