Ben Dunno, Warri
Indications that the Delta state Police Commissioner, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, would not relent in his ongoing war against kidnappers and cultists emerged yesterday, as more suspected cult members found in possession of illegal arms and ammunitions with which they terrorize innocent residents in various communities across the state have been arrested.
The latest arrest was that of a dreaded 34years old cult member, identified as Emmanuel John Aisewowhion, (M), popularly known “Small Juju“, a native of Ewohimi in Esan-South East LGA of Edo State, but resident at Uwagba Community in Okpe Council area of Delta State,
It was alleged that the suspect alongside his gang members were responsible for most of the kidnappings incidents and other violent crimes that had occurred in the area in the last three (3) years.
Making this disclosure in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri, yesterday, Delta Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Bright Edafe, said the suspect who is a member of Eiye confraternity was arrested with one Beretta pistol that was recovered in his house during a search by the police team.
The statement read in part; “Acting
on revelations by some of the suspects arrested in connection to kidnapping and cultism by the command’s special squad deployed to Ughelli, on May 24, 2024, at about 1635hrs, the special team led by ASP Julius Robinson trailed and arrested one Emmanuel John Aisewowhion, ‘m’, a.k.a “Small Juju“, aged 34yrs, a native of Ewohimi in Esan-South East LGA of Edo State, but resident at Uwagba community, Okpe Council area of Delta State”.
“One Beretta pistol was recovered from his house and investigation further revealed that he is a member of Eiye confraternity and he got the gun from one Goodluck Sakutu, a suspected gun runner already in custody. Serious efforts to arrest other members of his gang are ongoing”.
“In a related development, Sequel to series of reported cases of cultism and gun-running in Ughellli/Warri/Sapele/Oghara and environs, operatives on special assignment in Ughelli in line with the directive of the Commissioner of Police Delta State, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, embarked on an intelligence-driven policing, stormed Oghara town and arrested one notorious cultist identified as Philips Omomedia “m” aged 37 yrs of Onogo-Vor community in Ethiope West LGA Oghara Delta State”
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is a member of Aro-Bagar confraternity and suspected to be involved in a series of cult-related killings was arrested and one Automatic Double Barrel gun with fifteen (15) live cartridges was recovered from him. Investigation is ongoing”
“Also On May 26, 2024, at about 1700hrs a combined patrol team of policemen of the division & federal hunters who were deployed on a crime prevention patrol while on stop and search duty along Oputu road Orhowurun community in Udu LGA, flagged down a motorcyclist carrying one passenger for a routine search”.
“The suspect refused to stop and the team chased them, during the chase one of the suspects Christopher Semede ‘m’ age 33yrs was arrested and one locally made cut-to-size double barrel pistol was recovered from him. A concerted effort to arrest the other fleeing suspect is ongoing”.
“CP Abaniwonda Olufemi commends officers and men of the command for their steadfastness in fighting crime and urges other officers to emulate the same. He noted that it is our collective responsibility to flush out criminals from the state in other to guarantee the safety of residents in the State”.
“He further urges youths to shun all forms of crime, noting that youth involvement in cult-related activities is alarming and has negative consequences for the security of the state and for this reason, the command will not fold its hands and allow lawlessness in the state”.
“He assured residents that the command will continue to identify, arrest, and prosecute suspects arrested until Delta State is free from all forms of criminality”, he stated.