By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
FOLLOWING reported killings of yet-to-be-ascertained number of persons, eight members of two rival cult groups have been arrested in Oghara community, Ethiope West Local Government Area, Delta State.
This was made known in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP. Edafe Bright and made available to Stonix News on Wednesday.
Edafe said 23-year-old Gideon Emu Oboni was arrested during a raid raid of the scene by operatives of Delta Police Command on September 15.
Upon arrest, the suspect, a member of Black Axe Confraternity, led the operatives to their hideout where seven other cultists were also arrested.
The other arrested cultists included, Jerry Omonode aged 27yrs, Wisdom Simeon aged 27, Patrick Friday aged 22, Blessing Ovuakpoya aged 23, Emonena Vincent aged 24, Eseverere Nelson aged 28, and Abel Onos aged 24.
It was stated that two cut-to-size locally made guns, 12 live cartridges, two battle axes, two NBM berets, two calabash, and cult regalia were recovered from them.
In the same vein, two suspects who were riding an unregistered Qlink motorcycle were arrested during a stop-and-search duty along Onicha-Ugbo and Idumuje-Ugboko on Friday.
When subjected to thorough search, a locally-made pistol, two live cartridges, one dagger, and some native charms were found and recovered from them.
As a result, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, instructed residents of the state to be cautious of motorcycle riders, especially those carrying male passengers.
“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.
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.
“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 investigation is ongoing.
“CP Wale Abass while commending the officers, also advises 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.
“He noted that they could be dangerous, however, the command will do all it can to nip it in the bud before they could carry out their nefarious activities,” the statement read.
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