The Delta State Police Command has arrested four men over alleged cultism and armed robbery in Umunede and Ughelli areas of the state.
The arrests were made during separate operations which also led to the recovery of seven firearms, 10 live cartridges, two stolen motorcycles and suspected illicit drugs.
One of the operations followed a complaint by a resident of Umunede, who reported that a 30-year-old man, Chibuike Ezeji, allegedly threatened to kill him while displaying a pistol.
The police said operatives, working with members of the Umunede Civilian Anti-Cult Group, traced the suspect to a house along Umunede Expressway on October 30.
Ezeji and another suspect, Ikenna Emeka, 22, were arrested during the operation.
A search of the house reportedly led to the recovery of a pump-action gun, a locally made cut-to-size gun, three locally made pistols, eight live cartridges and substances suspected to be cannabis and methamphetamine.
In a separate operation in Ughelli, police arrested two men, Peter Emobaye, 22, and James Emmanuel, 29, over alleged motorcycle theft and armed robbery.
The suspects were arrested on October 28 when operatives of the Commissioner of Police’s Special Assignment Team raided a suspected criminal hideout in the Ighrovie area.
The police said the operation followed complaints of motorcycle snatching by armed men around Stadium Road, Saniko and adjoining communities.
A stolen Qlink motorcycle was recovered from the suspects.
During interrogation, the two men reportedly led the operatives to the residence of their alleged gang leader, identified as Sunny, in Ufuoma Town.
The police said another stolen motorcycle, a fabricated Beretta pistol, a locally made shotgun and two live cartridges were recovered from the house.
The alleged gang leader and other members of the group were said to be on the run.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Bright Edafe, disclosed the arrests in a statement on Saturday.
The Commissioner of Police, Samuel Erale, urged residents to provide useful information to help the command tackle cultism, armed robbery and the circulation of illegal firearms.
