Delta Police raid cultists’ hideouts, arrest 100 suspects
Fierce war against cultists and other related crimes in the Delta State have continued to yield positive results following the arrest, by the police, of 100 suspected cultists who allegedly belong to different cult groups in the state.
Undoubtedly, the success recorded in the subsisting fight is the resultant outcome of the proactive strategies put together by the state government and in tandem with the police command.
The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Zanna Ibrahim, who confirmed the arrest of the suspects to journalists in Asaba on Thursday, said to win the war against persons who belong to the secret cult, was the reason why the anti-cult unit was inaugurated whose main mandate to tackle the menace of cultism across the state.
While the hue and cry of cult related war continued to spread like wildfire in the state, the police boss explained that the police detectives assigned to the Anti-cult unit, combed every nook and cranny in Asaba, Kwale, Agbor, Ozoro, Obiaruku, Warri and Sapele known as flash points and arrested 100 suspects.
Noting that cult activities have been sources of disturbances in some communities in the state, the police commissioner said steps have been taken to curb the menace.
His words: “We have arrested 100 suspects who belong to different cult groups across the state, we have also intensify campaigns to stop cultism”, disclosing that some of the suspects have been charged to court and remanded in prison custody.
Investigation revealed that cult related activities boom in Asaba and its environs, especially during night fall with marabous youths who often clad in ruby dresses laced with red ropes and long chains of their necks. Popular among them all, is the Ake and Eiye confraternities regarded as the most dreaded with lay about youths as ‘capons’ allegedly armed with cut to sizes guns.
But Mr. Ibrahim said that the police will not fold their hands and watch criminals cause havoc, reiterating that the ongoing campaign against all forms of crimes will reduce cultism and other criminal activities in the state.
The police boss however called on the youths involved in cultism and other criminal activities to desist as the long arms of the law will catch up with them on their refusal.
In another development the police in Ubulu-Uku town, Aniocha South Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday gunned down a robbery suspect alleged to be member of the notorious armed robbery gang.
Mr. Zanna Ibrahim, police commissioner in the state confirmed that the robbery suspect was killed by men of the police Anti robbery squad in the community during a gun battle after the suspect’s attempt to rob a businessman in the community was foiled.
Unconfirmed sources said the suspect had allegedly murdered a trader in Onitsha and disposed her of her belongs before he fled to Delta State where he had been operating until he met his waterloo.
Also, a 22-year-old girl identified as Eunice (surname withheld) in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area of the state, is at present lying critical ill at the general hospital in Ozoro for injuries she allegedly sustained as a result of kerosene explosion.
The victim was said to have sustained the injuries in a kerosene explosion which occurred last week Monday in Uruto Quarters, Ubugo Street, Ozoro.
It was gathered that the fire started at about 10pm on the fateful day when the victim’s mother was filling the already lighted lantern with kerosene, which was later discovered to be adulterated when the explosion occurred.
