Operatives of the Anti-Cult Unit of Delta State Police Command have arrested four suspected cultists, recovering two guns and four live cartridges from their hideouts.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the arrest followed an intelligence report on Sunday, 17th April, 2022, that a group of suspected cultists and armed robbers were hibernating at Eloke Hotel located in Issele Azagba area of the state.
The intelligence revealed that the location has always been their meeting point before carrying out their operations.
The security operatives also gathered that the syndicate always monitored to know if the police were closing up on them and that whenever they suspect anything, they would throw their guns from the window of the hotel and run away.
Consequently, our correspondent gathered that the Anti-Cult operatives, “in a carefully planned operation”, raided the said hideouts and arrested four suspects namely Ogbuokwu Trust (23), Augustine Solomon (20);l, Edebatu Gideon, and Kingsley Okolie (20).
Confirming the arrest, the spokesman for the State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe disclosed that two locally made cut-to-size guns and four live cartridges were recovered from the syndicate.
In another development, the Command also on Sunday, 17th April, received a distress call from a caller (name withheld) that his Toyota Camry car with registration no. EFR 939 TK was snatched at about 2000hours of the same date in Otu-Jeremi community of Ughelli South Local Government Area.
The PPRO said that information was quickly disseminated through the Command’s control room to all DPOs and Patrol teams to be on the lookout with a view to recovering the said vehicle and arresting the suspects.
Consequently, on the following day, at about 0635hrs, the Anti-Crime Patrol of Ogwashi-Uku Police Station, while on routine stop and search duty along Kwale/Ogwashi-Uku expressway by Olloh-Ogwashi Community, intercepted the said Toyota Camry.
The occupant of the vehicle, upon sighting the police, abandoned the car and took to his heels.
The team went after him and after a hot chase, caught the suspect, Mkohol Iligh, aged 57years, and arrested him.
During interrogation, the suspect stated that one C.Y. who stays in Warri gave him the car to be delivered to another person in Asaba.
The police said that investigation is ongoing with a view to arresting all suspects involved.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police for the Command, CP Ari Muhammed Ali, while commending the efforts of the officers and men also urged them to continue to be on their toes, and go after all criminal elements in the State with a view to making the State unbearable for them.
The CP also appreciated the efforts of residents of the State who have been supporting the Command by way of information and assured them that their identity will be treated with utmost confidentiality.
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