Police arrest eight suspected cultists in Delta raid, recover gun

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Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested eight suspected cultists following a raid on their hideouts in Aragba-Orogun community.

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This was contained in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer for the state command, SP Bright Edafe, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri on Thursday.

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The statement noted that, “acting on credible intelligence regarding a proposed cult gathering in Aragba-Orogun, operatives of the Command Anti-Cult Unit, Ozoro, raided the location and arrested eight suspects.”

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Those arrested, according to the police, included Godspower Achubue, 27; Ziden Edem, 27; Kingsley Aniefem, 36; Omita John, 22; Onumu Happy, 22; Kenneth Ukpurakpo, 22; Juliet Festus, 26; and Oghenegueke Okuanah, 22.

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“Preliminary investigation was extended to the residence of one of the suspects and a search warrant was executed, leading to the recovery of one pump-action gun, and one live cartridge,” the statement affirmed.

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It disclosed that investigation was ongoing.

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In another development, the police statement said that on September 8, 2026, operatives of the Okpanam Division responded swiftly to a report that a group of persons had allegedly invaded a construction site, stopped workers, seized their working tools and demanded ₦700,000, known in the local parlance as “deve”, before allowing work to continue.

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The police operatives mobilised to the scene and arrested one Collins Dunkun, 30, while six other suspects fled. A search of the suspect led to the recovery of one locally made single-barrel pistol and one cartridge. Efforts to arrest the fleeing suspects are ongoing, the police said.

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Also on September 8, 2026, operatives of the Divisional Surveillance Team raided an incomplete building at King Zanga, Ugbuegwai Community, Warri, following credible intelligence regarding suspected illicit drug activities at the location.

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The operation led to the arrest of Rabi’u Salihu, 26; Salisu Suleiman, 23; Rabilu Ali, 24; Alhassan Mohd Mansur, 28; and Aliyu Abubakar, 25. Quantities of weed suspected to be Indian hemp, Codeine, Colorado, Rizla, SK and Canadian Loud were recovered. The suspects are in custody, while the investigation is ongoing.

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In the same vein, on September 8, 2026, the Ekpan Division received a report concerning a brown Toyota Camry Pencil Light, with registration number BEN-572BT, said to have been stolen in Benin City the previous day.

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The operatives embarked on an intelligence-led investigation and trailed the vehicle to the New Era area of Jakpa Road, Ekpan.

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The operatives immediately proceeded to the location, sighted the vehicle and laid an ambush, leading to the arrest of Destiny Suleman, 41, and Samuel Ejiro, 21, and the recovery of the vehicle. The suspects are in custody, while investigation is ongoing.

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Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale, has warned that “cultism, unlawful possession of firearms, extortion, illicit drug activities and other criminal acts will not be tolerated in the State.”

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The CP reassured residents that “the Command will continue to take proactive measures to prevent crime, dismantle criminal networks and bring offenders to justice.”

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