CITIZENS COMPASS— Delta State Police Command said it has arrested some suspect cultists and gun peddlers during an operation.
This occurred while tightening the net on violent crime with two decisive operations that led to arrests and the recovery of multiple firearms and ammunition. The actions, driven by credible intelligence, sent a clear signal to cult groups and robbery syndicates that the State is not a safe harbour.
Spokesperson for the Command, Bright Edafe, confirmed this to newsmen on Wednesday.
He said the Command recovered a locally made double-barrel gun and six live cartridges in the process.
Confirming the arrest, Edafe said: On 25th October 2025 at about 1800hrs, a resident of Aviara community, under Oleh Division, reported that on 22nd October 2025 at about 0812hrs, a video depicting suspected Eiye cult activity was posted on a WhatsApp group known as “Real Men”. Upon receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Oleh Division, CSP Keme Osuluku, detailed his operatives to investigate discreetly. At 0800hrs on 26 October 2025, acting on preliminary findings, the operatives arrested the suspect linked to the post, Donatus Odovo (male, 29), of Aviara community. Follow-up investigation led to the arrest of Zachariah Okeh (male, 36), alleged to be an Eiye cult leader in Aviara. During an execution of a search warrant at his residence, officers recovered one locally made double-barrelled gun, one locally made single-barrelled gun, and six live cartridges. The exhibits were secured, and the suspects were taken into custody for further questioning, while efforts continue to apprehend additional collaborators.
In another related development, he said the Command arrested a gun runner, and recovered a fabricated beretta pistol, a PUMP action shotgun, four live ammunition and four live cartridges:
In another development, on 27/10/2025 at about 1345hrs, Rapid Response Squad operatives, while on stop-and-search duty along the Asaba–Benin Expressway, intercepted a Toyota RAV4 with registration EPE 189 GN. The driver, Mordi Emmanuel (male, 45), of No. 74, Family Estate, Asaba, complied with routine checks. Inside an envelope found in the vehicle, officers recovered one fabricated Beretta pistol with breech No. 5182207, with four live rounds.
Acting under the operational direction of the Rapid Response Squad Commander, CSP Nosa Alex, who coordinated the deployment and approved immediate follow-up actions, a team executed a duly obtained search warrant at the suspect’s residence. The search yielded one pump-action shotgun with breech No. 20-R-3921, and four live cartridges from the house and premises. The exhibits and the suspect are in custody and investigation is ongoing.
The Commissioner of Police Delta State, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, commends the vigilance of residents and the professionalism displayed by the officers involved. He reaffirms the Command’s zero tolerance for cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping, and the unlawful possession of firearms, and restates the commitment to intelligence-led policing, community partnership, and strict respect for the law.
He urges members of the public to remain security-conscious and to share timely, credible information with the Police.
