Delta police arrest four suspected cultists, robbers, recover seven guns
Delta police arrest four suspected cultists, robbers, recover seven guns 
By Veronica Odion
Four suspected cultists and armed robbers have been apprehended by the police in Delta State.
The Delta State Police Command said its operatives effected the arrests
in separate operations in Umunede and Ughelli.
The command also said operatives recovered seven firearms, 10 live cartridges, two stolen motorcycles and substances suspected to be illicit drugs during the operations.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, saying the operations were part of efforts to tackle cultism, armed robbery and the proliferation of illegal firearms in the state.
Edafe said the first operation followed a complaint by an Umunede resident that one Chibuike Ezeji, 30, allegedly threatened to kill him while brandishing a pistol.
He said operatives of Umunede Police Division, working with members of the Umunede Civilian Anti-Cult Group, arrested Ezeji and another suspect, Ikenna Emeka, 22, at a residence along Umunede Expressway on October 30.
He said a search of the premises led to the recovery of a pump-action gun, a locally made cut-to-size gun, three locally made pistols, eight live cartridges and substances suspected to be cannabis and methamphetamine.
In a separate operation on October 28, Edafe said operatives of the Commissioner’s Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) arrested two suspected armed robbers, Peter Emobaye, 22, and James Emmanuel, 29, at a suspected criminal hideout in the Ighrovie area of Ughelli.
The spokesman said the operation followed complaints of motorcycle snatching along Stadium Road, Saniko and adjoining areas of Ughelli.
He said the suspects reportedly led operatives to the residence of their alleged gang leader, identified as Sunny, in Ufuoma Town, where another stolen motorcycle, a fabricated Beretta pistol, a locally made shotgun and two live cartridges were recovered.
The police spokesman said the four suspects were in custody, while efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing gang leader and other members of the suspected syndicate.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Etaifo Erale, urged residents to provide credible and timely information to assist the command in its efforts to safeguard lives and property.
—GN