ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State Police Command has disrupted a suspected cult gathering, foiled an alleged extortion attempt at a construction site and recovered a stolen vehicle in separate operations across the state, with 16 suspects arrested.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, saying the operations also resulted in the recovery of a pump-action gun, a locally made pistol, ammunition and substances suspected to be illicit drugs.
In Aragba-Orogun, operatives of the Command Anti-Cult Unit, Ozoro, acting on intelligence about a proposed cult gathering, raided the location and arrested eight suspects.
They were identified as 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.
The police said the investigation was subsequently extended to the residence of one of the suspects, where operatives, armed with a search warrant, recovered a pump-action gun and one live cartridge.
The command said the circumstances surrounding the firearm and its possible connection with the suspected cult activity were being investigated.
In a separate incident in Okpanam on September 8, police responded to a report of an alleged extortion attempt at a construction site, where workers were reportedly stopped from working and their tools seized.
According to the police, the suspects allegedly demanded ₦700,000 before allowing construction work to resume.
Operatives of Okpanam Division arrested a 30-year-old suspect, Collins Dunkun, at the scene, while six other suspects reportedly escaped.
A search of Dunkun allegedly led to the recovery of a locally made single-barrel pistol and one cartridge. The command said efforts were underway to arrest the fleeing suspects.
Also on September 8, operatives of the Divisional Surveillance Team raided an uncompleted building at King Zanga, Ugbuegwai Community, Warri, following intelligence on suspected illicit drug activities.
Five suspects — Rabi’u Salihu, 26; Salisu Suleiman, 23; Rabilu Ali, 24; Alhassan Mohd Mansur, 28; and Aliyu Abubakar, 25 — were arrested.
Police said quantities of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, Codeine, Colorado, Rizla, SK and Canadian Loud were recovered during the operation.
Meanwhile, an intelligence-led investigation by the Ekpan Division led to the recovery of a Toyota Camry allegedly stolen in Benin City and the arrest of two suspects.
The brown Toyota Camry Pencil Light, with registration number BEN-572BT, was reportedly stolen in Benin City on September 7.
According to the command, investigators traced the vehicle to the New Era area of Jakpa Road, Ekpan, where operatives laid an ambush and arrested Destiny Suleman, 41, and Samuel Ejiro, 21.
The vehicle was recovered, while the two suspects were taken into custody for further investigation.
The command said investigations into the separate incidents were ongoing.
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel E. Erale, warned that cultism, unlawful possession of firearms, extortion, illicit drug activities and other criminal acts would not be tolerated in the state.
Erale assured residents that the command would sustain intelligence-led and proactive operations aimed at preventing crime, disrupting criminal networks and bringing those found culpable before the law.
