ASABA: In a sustained effort to curb violent crime, the Delta State Police Command has intensified its crackdown on cultism and armed criminality, recording significant breakthroughs with the arrest of key suspects and recovery of dangerous weapons.
The Command’s spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the arrests in a statement on Wednesday, noting that several operations across the state led to the seizure of firearms and live ammunition.
He said the coordinated, intelligence-led operations reflected a renewed offensive against violent groups threatening peace and public safety in Delta communities.
According to Edafe, one of the major operations followed a report from a resident of Aviara community under Oleh Division about a viral video showing suspected Eiye cult activities shared on a WhatsApp group called Real Men.
Acting on the report, the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Keme Osuluku, deployed detectives for a discreet investigation which led to the arrest of Donatus Odovo (29), a resident of Aviara.
Further interrogation, Edafe added, resulted in the apprehension of Zachariah Okeh (36), described as the alleged leader of the Eiye confraternity in the area.
A search of Okeh’s residence led to the recovery of a locally made double-barrel gun, a single-barrel gun, and six live cartridges.
Both suspects are currently in custody and undergoing intensive interrogation, while efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the cult group.
In a related development, the Command’s Rapid Response Squad (RRS) achieved another success on October 27, 2025, when operatives on stop-and-search duty along the Asaba Benin Expressway intercepted a Toyota RAV4 (registration number EPE 189 GN) driven by Mordi Emmanuel (45) of Family Estate, Asaba.
During the search, the team discovered a fabricated Beretta pistol with breech number 5182207 and four live rounds hidden inside an envelope within the vehicle, Edafe stated.
Following directives from the RRS Commander, CSP Nosa Alex, a search warrant was executed at the suspect’s residence, where officers recovered one pump-action shotgun (breech No. 20-R-3921) and four additional live cartridges
All recovered exhibits are currently in police custody as investigations continue to determine possible links between the suspect and any armed robbery or criminal network within the state.
SP Edafe reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to maintaining law and order, warning that the police will sustain their operations until cultism and violent crimes are rooted out of Delta State.
