The Delta State Commissioner of Police, Ari Mohammed Ali, has revealed how his command arrested 43 suspected cultists and recovered 62 live ammunition from daredevil kidnappers in the state.
Ali explained that the first haul of achievement occurred on March 15, after his command received an intelligence gathering.
He said: “Operatives from the command Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber-Crime squad trailed a suspected kidnapping syndicate operating within Sapele, Oghara and Abraka axis. The kidnappers were trailed to their hideout in Oghara where three suspected kidnappers were successfully neutralised and two AK 47 rifles, three pump action guns, and 62 rounds of live ammunition were recovered. Also on March 14, a cult clash ensued between Eiye and Arobaga confraternities in Jesse community, Ethiope West local government area, where four suspected cultists were killed. I immediately directed the Command State Anti-Cultism Unit, Dragon Patrol, Eagle-net special squad, and Safe Delta Patrol teams to Jesse town with a view to ensuring that sanity is immediately restored in the Community. Consequently, three members of Arobaga confraternity namely: Victor John, Nelson Friday, and Festus Friday, who were alleged to have killed the four members of Eiye confraternity were arrested. Today, I’m glad to say that they are here with us. As part of measures to forestall any further breakdown of law and order in any part of the State, I ordered that intensive raiding be carried out on suspected cultists’ hideouts by Divisional Police Officers in their areas of responsibility. In compliance with these directives, the DPO ‘A’ Division Warri led a combined team of Police/Vigilante Patrol teams and carried out an intensive raid at Ogedengbe and Hausa quarters respectively.
During the raid, 21 suspected cultists were arrested. The State Anti-Cultism unit and the Command raiders squad also carried out raids in different parts of the state and arrested 19 suspected cultists. I assure you all today that the Command will not relent in the fight against kidnapping and cultism and now, more than ever, willing to identify, raid, arrest and prosecute anyone found wanting. Parents and guardians are therefore urged to monitor their wards and caution them to shun all forms of criminality as anyone found wanting will be arrested and prosecuted.”
