The Delta State Police Command has arrested eleven suspected cultists and recovered firearms, ammunition, and dangerous weapons in separate intelligence-led operations across the state.

The arrests followed intensified operations by the Command against cultism, illegal possession of firearms, and other violent crimes, according to a statement issued on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe.

In one of the operations, operatives of the Buffalo Patrol Team acting on a distress call raided a suspected cultist hideout at Eagle Square along Okpanam Road, Asaba, on Thursday.

During the raid, seven male suspects and two female suspects were arrested, while one Beretta pistol, one battle axe, and one cutlass were recovered from the scene.

The police said the suspects and exhibits had been transferred to the Command’s Anti-Cult Unit for further investigation.

In a separate operation on the same day, operatives of the Safer Highway Patrol Team intercepted a Lexus Jeep with registration number KWL 139 CY during a stop-and-search duty along the Ughelli/Patani Road.

The driver of the vehicle, identified as Felix Ike, was arrested after a search led to the recovery of one English-made pump action gun and forty rounds of live cartridges concealed in the vehicle.

Similarly, operatives of the Command Anti-Cult Unit arrested a 28-year-old suspect, Christopher Ogidigbo, in Ogharaefe Town, Ethiope-West Local Government Area, following credible intelligence linking him to cult-related activities.

Police identified Ogidigbo as a suspected kingpin of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity (SVC), adding that one locally made revolver pistol was recovered from him during the operation.

The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, commended the operatives for their professionalism and reiterated the Command’s commitment to combating cultism, illegal possession of firearms, and other criminal activities across the state.