UGHELLI – As parts of its drive to rid the state of crimes, the police in Delta State have arrested over one hundred armed suspected cultists and armed robbers at different locations in the state.
In a press release by the Acting Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Command, DSP Bright Edafe, stated that the cultists were arrested on 15/7/2021 at about 2050hrs, by the RRS team of the police while on visibility patrol along Ibusa-Ogwashi-Uku – Issele-Azagba road after Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic.
He explained that the RRS team received information that a group of suspected cultist came out from the bush with intent to cause mayhem, and the police team quickly swung into action but the suspected cultists who were armed on sighting the police, quickly retreated back to the bush.
” But the police did not relent, they chased them into the bush, and there was exchanged of gun fire, the hoodlums who could not withstand the firepower of the police threw away one AK 50 rifle with breach No. NA48333 containing a full loaded magazine with nineteen rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition and escaped.
“Also, a cult initiation process was foiled by SACU operatives who acted on intelligence information that there will be cult initiation in Ogume community in Ukuani Local Government Area of Delta state.
“SACU operatives stormed the bush at night, and successfully arrested over 28 suspect. Eight suspected Aiye confraternity cult members were also arrested in Warri. Further investigation and the confessional statement of one of the suspects led to the arrest of one Lucky Eluagu (m) alias DJ Lucky age 27years of old Okpe Street Jeddo in Okpe Local Government Area.
“The suspect confessed being a valid member of Aye confraternity. Exhibit recovered from him includes a face cap with black axe logo.
In a related development on the 13/7/2021 at about 1630hrs, the police in Oviwan-Aladja division acting on a distress call that some armed robbers were at a bush bar in Otor-Udu, consequently, they swiftly deployed patrol teams to the scene, on sighting the police, they attempted to escape in a motorcycle, they were chased by the patrol teams, two of the suspects escaped while one was arrested.
“On Searching, the suspect, Umukoro Collins was in possession of a black bag, on searching the bag, one (1) locally made pistol and one (1) live cartridge was recovered”.
Also, On 15/7/2021 at about 1745hrs, ‘B’ Division Warri patrol team while on stop and search at Igbudu area had an encounter with three (3) armed men gang suspected to be armed robbers.
“The gangs were armed with a locally made gun on sighting the Police, opened fire on the patrol team and on the process Police returned fire, one of them that was armed with a locally made gun was fatally injured while others escaped.
“One locally made gun, one live cartridge and one (1) expanded cartridge were recovered. Effort is ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects.
Men of the Eagle-Net Special Squad operatives while on stop and search same day at Otukutu junction, Ughelli South Local Government Area, sighted two young men, the suspects on sighting the police attempted to run but were given a hot chase by the police which led to the arrest of one Mohammed Umar ‘m’ 18yrs of Raba LGA of Sokoto State and Aliyu Abubakar ‘m’ 20yrs of Danko Wasagu LGA of Kebbi State.
The police discovered that one of them sustained a broken arm and injuries on his back which crave suspicion, after a thorough search on the said suspects, one live cartridge, one mini Techno phone, three thousand naira (N3,000), some sticks of cigarettes and one lighter was found in their possession.
