… 13 others held for cultism
Delta State Police Command on Monday announced the killing of a notorious leader of a dreaded armed robbery gang, identified as Getay, in the Warri area of the state.
Getay, according to the Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Bright Edafe, died at the hospital where he was receiving treatment following gunshot injuries he sustained during a gun battle with the police.
Edafe said the deceased ring leader and his gang members, who have been on the command’s watch list, were operating within the neighborhood of Erejuwa when a patrol team, acting on a tip-off, stormed the scene.
He said on sighting the police team, the suspects opened fire, and the team responded swiftly, adding that in the ensuing gun duel, Getay sustained injuries.
Saying that the matter was being investigated, Edafe said one cut-to-size double barrel gun, one live cartridge, and two expended cartridges were recovered.
He said operatives of the command also rescued a 62-year old kidnapped victim, whose names he withheld, in Afiesere, Ughelli area of the state.
According to him, operatives were on routine stop and search duty along ECN/Otu-Jeremi Aladja road by Ewhrekekan junction, when they sighted a Mercedes Benz ML 350 and Lexus 350 parked by the roadside.
“While observing the two vehicles, a kidnapped victim (names withheld) aged 62 years on sighting the police raised an alarm that he had been kidnapped.
“The patrol team swung into action and advanced towards the vehicles when suddenly, they had gunshots. The team immediately returned fire which made the hoodlums abandon the victim and escaped into the bush. The victim was rescued by the team,”
he said.
Edafe said the black Mercedes Benz ML 350 with registration number EKY 964 DP belonging to the victim and one AK47 magazine loaded with eight rounds of 7.62 ammunition were recovered.
Besides, Edafe said 13 suspected cultists were in the custody of the command after they were arrested during a foiled initiation ceremony of Aiye confraternity in Ukwu-Nzu, Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state.
He said one locally-made double-barrel shotgun, twenty-five life cartridges, a Toyota Corolla with registration number GRA 68 SG, and a Lexus 350 SUV with registration number BDG 689 GQ were recovered, adding that investigation was ongoing.
