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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Police arrest seven cultists in Delta, recover weapons

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • Delta State Police Command arrested seven suspected members of the Maphite Confraternity during a crackdown on cultism.
  • Operatives also foiled a planned gathering of criminals in Abraka, arresting one suspect and recovering weapons.
  • The police commissioner reassured the public of the command's commitment to intelligence-led operations against violent crimes.

Operatives of the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the Delta State Police Command have arrested seven suspected members of the Maphite Confraternity as part of an intensified crackdown on cultism and violent crimes. The suspects, aged between 20 and 26, were apprehended in a raid on a criminal hideout in Issele-Uku.

on July 27, 2026, operatives of the Command Anti kidnapping Unit, while acting on credible intelligence, raided a criminal hideout at Issele-Uku, and arrested Promise Esenjor (26) of Abavo, Wisdom Victor (23) of Umunede, James Wisdom (25) of Agbor, Chinedu Munonye (22) of Issele-Uku, Onyemakonor Collins (20) of Agbor, Unah Oluchi (21) of Agbor, and Azomani Favour (23) of Issele-Uku

— Bright EdafeDetailing the arrest of seven suspected cult members.

According to the State Police Command Spokesman, Superintendent of Police Bright Edafe, the suspects confessed their membership in the Maphite Confraternity during preliminary investigations. Recovered from their hideout were a double-barrel gun, seven live cartridges, a cutlass, a Maphite cult beret, and seven Android phones, among other incriminating items. The investigation into this matter is ongoing.

In a separate operation, police in Abraka foiled a planned gathering of suspected criminals along Omono Road. While other suspects fled, one individual, Wale Morakinyo, was arrested. A search of his bag yielded two locally fabricated pistols and four live cartridges. Efforts are underway to apprehend the fleeing suspects.

foiled a planned gathering of suspected criminals along Omono Road, Abraka

— Bright EdafeDescribing the operation that led to the arrest of Wale Morakinyo.

State Commissioner of Police Yemi Oyeniyi has reassured residents of Delta State about the command's dedication to sustaining intelligence-led operations against cultism and other violent crimes. He urged the public to continue providing credible and timely information to support the ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of the state.

As Africa’s premier development agency, we are excited to deepen our collaboration with Nigeria, working together to create new economic opportunitie

— Yemi OyeniyiReassuring the public about the command's commitment to security.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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