Police arrest 12 suspected cultists in Delta – Official

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The Police Command in Delta State, Nigeria’s south-south, has arrested 12 suspected cultists in the state.

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Bright Edafe, the police spokesperson in the state, disclosed this to reporters on Monday in Warri.

Mr Edafe, a superintendent of police, said that the suspects were arrested on Sunday by a combined team of the state anti-cult unit.

He said that they were nabbed in their hideout at Jesse community in Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state, adding that the operation was conducted following series of cult attacks in the community in recent times.

“Following recent cult attacks in Jesse, a combined team of state anti-cult unit stormed a criminal hideout and arrested the suspects.

“One Beretta pistol and one live ammunition were recovered from the suspects during the raid,” he said.

The police spokesperson said that the suspected hoodlums were in the custody of the police, while investigation was ongoing.

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There has been a surge lately in cultism and related-violence in Delta despite police effort to tackle it.

In 2021, the police commissioner in Delta blamed cultists for the killing of police officers in the state.

“From records so far, we have come to realise that those responsible for the killing of policemen and carting away their rifles are members of a syndicate.

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“Especially that of cult groups desperately in need of arms and ammunition to gain superiority over other rival groups in a particular area,” the commissioner, Mohammed Ali, had said while reacting to the killing of a police officer at Edjeba Junction in Warri South Local Government Area of the state.

In September 2020, two persons were killed in Delta during a clash between two rival cult groups in Lower Erejuwa axis of Warri, in Warri South Local Government Area of the state. The victims include a 14-year-old boy.

(NAN)