Police arrest suspected cultists, armed robbers, recover locally-made guns, others

•CP Wale Abass advises residents to be wary of some motorcycle riders

By Hannah Nathan, Warri

The Delta State police command has apprehended suspected cultists, and armed robbers and recovered locally-made cut-to-size guns, daggers, charms and regalias on 16th September, 2023.

This is according to a statement signed by the state police public relations officer, Bright Edafe on Monday.

The statement reads partly, “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 {01} locally made pistol, two live cartridges, one {01} dagger, and some native charms were recovered from them. The two Suspects are in custody and the 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 ( 02 ) cut-to-size locally made guns, twelve live ( 12 ) cartridges, two (02 ) battle axes, (02) NBM berets, two (02) calabash, Cult regalia”, he noted.

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.

Edafe who emphasised that they could be dangerous, however, stated that the command would do all it could to nip it in the bud before they could carry out their nefarious activities.

“DEDICATED LINES:
• 08036684974; 08125958005; 09053872287 (CONTROL ROOM)
• 09155570007 & 09155570008 (PPRO OFFICE)”.