The Delta State Police Command has announced the disruption of a suspected cult initiation and the recovery of a pump-action gun.
The police spokesperson, DSP Edafe Bright, said in a statement on Monday that on Monday, November 20, 2023, at about 7:00 PM, a team of police officers acting on credible intelligence stormed an uncompleted building at Mission Road in Sapele, where a cult initiation was reportedly taking place.
Bright stated that upon sighting the police, the suspects fled in different directions, abandoning a bag. Upon searching the bag, the police recovered one English pump action gun.
He noted that the recovered exhibit is in custody, an investigation has commenced and efforts are being made to identify and arrest the fleeing suspects.
In another incident, the police spokesman also stated that it had arrested a suspected cultist and recovered a locally made, cut-to-size gun.
“On November 23, 2023, at about 2:00 PM, a man (name withheld) reported at the station that while an argument ensued between him and his siblings at his residence in Umunede Community, one Francis Sunday, a resident of the same community who was present at the time of the altercation, was ordered to leave the premises,” Bright stated.
The suspect, Francis Sunday, became aggressively hostile and pulled out a locally fabricated, cut-to-size pistol, threatening to kill anyone who tried to walk him out of the residence, according to Bright.
He added that upon receiving the complaint, operatives swung into action and on November 24, 2023, at about 12:30 PM, operatives of the Divisional Anti-Crime Patrol Team stormed the residence of the complainant at No.7 Old Agbor Road, Umunede, where the alleged suspect was arrested.
“Preliminary investigation led the operatives to search his residence at Mbiri Community Umunede, where one locally made cut-to-size pistol was recovered.”
The suspect and exhibit are in custody, and an investigation has commenced.
The Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, however, commended the efforts of the police officers involved in these operations and assured that the Command will continue to work tirelessly to protect the safety of all law-abiding citizens.
Abass also urged residents to cooperate with the police by providing useful, timely, and credible information to assist in crime prevention and detection.