Twenty suspected cultists have been arrested by police operatives who raided flashpoints in Agbor and Sapele towns in Delta State.
The raid which was carried out by operatives from the state command anti-cult unit, followed disturbing cases of attacks by suspected cultists in the troubled areas.
Also, the towns especially Sapele, had recently witnessed upsurge in cases of cult-related deaths.
Parading the suspects on Wednesday in Asaba, Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Ari Muhammed Ali, said two locally-made guns, two Dane guns, one dagger and a laptop were recovered.
Ali said the suspects already confessed to being members of the Aro bagger and Ayes confraternity, adding that the matter was still under investigation.
CP Ali also paraded 11 other suspects who were arrested across the state for various offences including armed robbery, use of unauthorized siren and number plates unlawful possession of firearms, impersonation of military officers, and car snatching.
On the suspected kidnapper who turned himself in at Obiaruku community, Ukwuani Local Government Area of the State, Mr. Ali, said the matter was still under investigation, adding that a total of five suspects were presently in lawful custody in connection with the matter.
He commended the people of Obiaruku for demonstrating rare bravery to ensure that the suspects were arrested in their hideout in the bush following the confession of the suspect who earlier turned himself in.
Ali however lamented that kidnapping was still thriving because of the collaboration between natives of the community and strangers with criminal intentions.
“The kidnappers and criminal elements among the herdsmen carry out their kidnapping in collaboration with locals.
“The five suspects are natives of Obiaruku. They collaborated with criminal elements among the herdsmen to kidnap people and collect ransom.And whatever proceeds that they realised from every operation, they usually share it with their local collaborators who usually sell out their brothers and sisters and make them soft targets for kidnapping,”
he said.
