Delta State Police Command nabs cultists, recovers arms

Policemen attached to the Delta State Police Command have arrested suspected cultists and recovered arms and stolen vehicles.

A statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Bright Edafe, noted that the suspects were arrested following a tip-off made available to the police.

Edafe said: “On 17/4/2022, information got to the command that a group of suspected cultists/armed robbers were hibernating at Eloke Hotel located in Issele Azagba and the location being their meeting point before carrying out their operations.

The PPRO added that intelligence further revealed that the syndicate were on high alert to know if the police were closing up on them, noting that whenever they suspected anything, they threw their guns from the window of the hotel and ran away.

“Operatives of the State Anti-Cult unit in a carefully planned operation, raided the said hideout and arrested four suspects namely – Ogbuokwu Trust ‘m’, 23; Augustine Solomon ‘m’, 20; Edebatu Gideon ‘m’, and Kingsley Okolie ‘m’, 20 years.

“Two locally made cut to size guns and four live cartridges were recovered from them.

“In another development, on 17//4/2022, the Command received a distress call from a caller (Name withheld) that his Toyota Camry car with registration no. EFR 939 TK was snatched at about 2000hours on the same date in the Otu-Jeremi community of Ughelli South LGA.

“Information was quickly disseminated through the Command’s control room to all DPOs and Patrol teams to be on the lookout with a view to recovering the said vehicle and arresting the suspects.

“Consequently, on 18/4/2022 at about 0635hrs Anti-Crime Patrol of Ogwashi-Uku Police Station while on routine stop and search duty along Kwale/Ogwashi-Uku expressway by Olloh-Ogwashi Community, intercepted the said Toyota Camry.

“The Occupant who happens to be the driver of a vehicle upon sighting the Police abandoned the car and took to his heels. The team went after the suspect and after a hot chase caught up with him and the suspect Mkohol Iligh ‘m’, 57 years was arrested.

“The suspect stated that one C.Y ‘m’ who stays in Warri gave him the car to be delivered to another person in Asaba. An investigation is ongoing with a view to arresting all suspects involved.

“The Commissioner of Police CP Ari Muhammed Ali, while commending the efforts of the men also urges them to continue to be on their toes, and go after all criminal elements in the State with a view to making the State unbearable for them.

“He also appreciated the efforts of residents of the state who has been supporting the command by way of information and assures them that their identity will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.”