Countless members of a suspected cult were apprehended by Police operatives over the weekend in Delta State, reducing their numbers to a minimum of 31.
In an effort to purge the state of cultists, the CP Ari Mohammed Ali-led Police Command conducted two separate operations in which the suspects were captured.
According to reports, 10 of the suspects were apprehended when a team led by the area crime officer, SP Kufre Udofia, and made up of members of Raiders Squad, GRA Division agents, and Area Command Asaba stormed the hideout somewhere in Mile 5, which serves as a border between Oshimili North and Oshimili South LGA. They allegedly intended to attack nearby innocent locals.
According to information provided by our correspondent, the suspects were found to be in possession of a fake AK-47 gun, charms, a Vigilante ID card, and AC&DC Black Ice confraternity paraphernalia.
The others, according to the allegation, were present at an initiation ceremony held by police detectives under the direction of the DPO Ibusa Police Station at Zion Road in Ibusa.
Both incidences were confirmed by the police public relations officer, DSP Bright Edafe, in a release made accessible to journalists on Thursday.
According to the statement: “On July 7, 2022, Area Commander Asaba received information about several suspected cultists who were huddling somewhere near Mile 5, which separates Oshimili North and Oshimili South LGA, and who were preparing to assault local residents.
The Region Commander informed CP Ari Muhammed Ali, the Commissioner of Police, who then gave the order for a significant raid in the area.
“A combined team led by the Area Crime Officer, SP Kufre Udofia, comprised of Raiders Squad, GRA Division, and Area Command Asaba members stormed the hideout and arrested ten (10) suspects. They also seized charms, a fake Vigilante ID card, and AC&DC Black Ice Confraternity regalia. The investigation is still ongoing.
“The DPO Ibusa Police Station received information that Black Axe Confraternity, commonly known as ‘AYES,’ men were holding their initiation ceremony at Zion Road Ibusa on 10/7/2022 at around 0130 hours.
“The Commissioner of Police directed a joint team of State Anti-Cult (SACU), Ibusa Division, and local vigilantes who swung into action, raided their hideout, arrested 25 male suspects, recovered three Aye confraternity regalia, one military vest, two aye confraternity stockings, three locally made cut-to-size guns, four live cartridges, a gallon of substances believed to be liquid hard drugs, the inquiry is ongoing.