All the recovered exhibits are in police custody, while efforts have been intensified to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects
By Moses Okorie
The Delta State Police Command has foiled a suspected cult initiation ceremony in Orogun Community, Ughelli North Local Government Area, recovering weapons, vehicles and other items linked to the suspected members.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed the development on Monday in Warri, saying the operation was carried out on Sunday by operatives of the Quick Response Squad (QRS) following credible intelligence.
Edafe said the police received information that members of the Black Axe Confraternity, also known as Aye, were conducting an initiation ceremony inside a forest in Orogun.
According to him, the operatives swiftly stormed the location to disrupt the illegal gathering.
“On sighting the police, the suspected cultists opened fire but were repelled by the superior tactical response of the police. The exchange of gunfire forced the suspects to flee into the adjoining forest along the Abbi–Abraka axis,” he said.
The police spokesperson said officers recovered one pump-action gun, one cut-to-size double-barrelled gun, seven live cartridges and two expended cartridges from the scene.
He added that seven vehicles, six mobile phones, suspected cult regalia and other personal belongings abandoned by the fleeing suspects were also recovered.
Edafe said all the recovered exhibits are in police custody, while efforts have been intensified to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.
He noted that the Commissioner of Police in Delta State, Mr Yemi Oyeniyi, commended the operatives for their bravery and professionalism during the operation.
The commissioner, he said, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating cultism and other criminal activities across the state, while urging residents to continue providing timely and credible information to assist security agencies in maintaining peace and safety.