The Delta State Police Command have arrested 23 suspected cultists in Ogwashi Uku, Achalla Ibusa, Okpanam communities, in a renewed raid.
The state Police Commissioner, Mustapha Muhammad, who confirmed the arrest of the suspects to journalists in Asaba on Thursday, disclosed that the suspects were arrested on Wednesday in line with intelligence gathered by the police at Ogwashi Uku, Okpanam and Acalla Ibusa divisions.
He added that the suspects confessed in their statement that they were members of the Vickings confraternity.
Muhammad said, “The Police anti-cultism units in the divisions were given matching orders to fish out suspected cultists who have been terrorising the state, especially Okpanam, Ogwashi Uku, Achalla Ibusa communities based on intelligence gathering, and twenty-three suspects were arrested, and are currently being detained for further investigation”.
The police boss further disclosed that the police were ready to round up hoodlums who may have regrouped to make lives unbearable for unsuspecting residents of the state, and warned that it will not be business as usual for criminals operating in the state.
He said, “We have positioned our men and officers of the police force in the flash-point areas with a view to arresting hoodlums and bringing them to book ahead of the Yuletide celebrations, and we call on law-abiding members of the public to always provide the police with useful information that will be treated in confidence to assist the police in its investigation”.
The police boss disclosed that the police recovered battle axes and knives from the suspects, adding that the suspects will be charged to court upon the completion of investigation.
According to him, “Some of the suspects claimed they were undergraduates of the state-owned polytechnics and university. We are investigating their claims”.
The commissioner of police, who called on parents to always monitor their children to avoid them being involved in criminal activities that will bring them shame, assured Deltans that the police will continue protecting their lives and property.
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