Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested a gang of suspected cultists and gun peddlers and recovered from the hoodlums multiple firearms and ammunition.
This was contained in a statement issued by the police public relations officer for Delta State Command, SP Bright Edafe, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri on Wednesday.
The police spokesman stated that the Command succeeded in tightening the net on violent crime with two decisive operations that led to arrests and the recovery of multiple firearms and ammunition.
According to him, on October 25, 2025, at about 1800hrs, a resident of Aviara community, under Oleh Division, intimated the police that on 22nd October, 2025, at about 0812hrs, a video depicting suspected Eiye cult activity was posted on a WhatsApp group known as “Real Men”.
Upon receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer of Oleh Division, CSP Keme Osuluku, detailed his operatives to investigate the matter discreetly.
He said, “At 0800hrs on 26 October 2025, acting on preliminary findings, the operatives arrested the suspect linked to the post, Donatus Odovo, male (29), of Aviara community.
“Follow-up investigation led to the arrest of Zachariah Okeh, male (36), alleged to be an Eiye cult leader in Aviara.
“During execution of a search warrant at his residence, officers recovered one locally made double-barrelled gun, one locally made single-barrelled gun, and six live cartridges.”
Consequently, the exhibits were secured, and the suspects were taken into custody for further questioning, the PPRO said.
While noting that efforts are ongoing to apprehend additional collaborators, the PPRO maintained that “the actions, driven by credible intelligence, sent a clear signal to cult groups and robbery syndicates that the State is not a safe harbour”.
In another development, on October 27, 2025, at about 1345hrs, Rapid Response Squad operatives, while on stop-and-search duty along the Asaba-Benin expressway, intercepted a Toyota RAV4 with registration number EPE 189 GN.
The driver, Mordi Emmanuel (45), of No. 74, Family Estate, Asaba, complied with routine checks.
However, inside an envelope found in the vehicle, the police officers recovered one fabricated Beretta pistol with breech No. 5182207, with four live rounds.
Acting under the operational direction of the Rapid Response Squad Commander, CSP Nosa Alex, who coordinated the deployment and approved immediate follow-up actions, a team executed a duly obtained search warrant at the suspect’s residence, during which one pump-action shotgun with breech No. 20-R-3921, and four live cartridges were recovered from the house and premises.
The suspect and the exhibits are currently in custody while the investigation is ongoing.
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, has commended the vigilance of residents and the professionalism displayed by the officers involved.
The police boss reaffirmed the Command’s zero tolerance for cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping, and the unlawful possession of firearms, while also restating “the commitment to intelligence-led policing, community partnership, and strict respect for the law”.
He urged members of the public to remain security-conscious and to share timely, credible information with the police.
