- We arrested 117 cultists this year -Delta CP
NOSA AKENZUA, ASABA
Persons believed to be cultists and members of a violent group currently terrorising Warri, Kwale, Ogwashi- Uku, Ozoro and Asaba in Delta State have reportedly killed two people in Kwale community and destroyed two buildings in Warri. Sources said the suspected cultists operated for about 30 minutes in each community during which the residents ran away for dear life.
It was reliably gathered that members of this dreaded group were usually armed with dangerous weapons such as AK-47 rifles and cutto- size axes. Only recently, cult groups unleashed terror on residents, including school children, around the Igbudu, Agbassa cemetery and Warri-Sapele roads.
They were also said to have stabbed a patent medicine operator in his throat in Warri before moving to the Enerhen junction, where they destroyed two houses belonging to a prominent politician.
The patent medicine operator, identified as Ejiro Lucky, unfortunately died on the way, while being taken to a nearby hospital by neighbours.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, Mr. Alkali Baba Usman, has said no fewer than 117 suspected cult members were arrested between January and November this year, adding that 23 other suspected armed robbers were killed in a gun battle with the Police in Ogwashi-Uku, Ozoro and Asaba.
While saying that most of the suspects had been charged to court, the police boss disclosed that it would no longer be busi- ness as usual for criminals across the state during the ‘ember’ months.
“We will send many of these criminals to their early graves if they do not repent, including cultists and we have arrested no fewer than 117 of them between January and November this year. We will make life unbearable for armed robbers who do not want to repent in this Yuletide; we are out to give them tough times and deal with them accordingly,” he said.
In another development, a Mobil filling station manager, Voice Ajom, at 171, Warri- Sapele Road by Warri Garage in the state on Thursday escaped death when suspected area boys, popularly known as Pally, whose trademarks are artificial tribal marks on both cheeks, reportedly stabbed him in his neck and shoulder for switching off the petrol pumps in his station.
Reacting, however, the CP, Usman, said the police were on top of the incident, adding that two persons had been arrested and were presently helping the police in their investigations.