(The Recovered Items. Photo Credit: Delta Police Command)
Police in Delta State have arrested 16 suspects and recovered two firearms, a stolen car and quantities of suspected illegal drugs during separate operations across the state.
Operatives of the Command Anti-Cult Unit raided a suspected cult gathering in Aragba-Orogun and arrested eight people.
Intelligence had indicated the meeting was planned.
A search at one of the suspect’s homes led to the recovery of a gun and one live cartridge.
In another operation, police arrested a 30-year-old man after he allegedly led others to invade a construction site on September 8.
The men stopped workers, took their tools and demanded 700,000 naira before allowing work to continue.
Six other suspects fled the scene.
Police recovered a locally made gun and a cartridge from the arrested suspect.
Efforts to arrest the others are ongoing.
Officers also raided an incomplete building in Warri following information about suspected illegal drug activities.
Five suspects were arrested and various substances suspected to be Indian hemp, Codeine, Colorado and other drugs were recovered from the location.
In a separate operation in Ekpan, two men were arrested after police traced a stolen Toyota Camry to the area.
The brown car with registration number BEN-572BT had been stolen from Benin City on September 7.
Police laid an ambush and caught the two suspects.
The Police Commissioner warned that cultism, illegal possession of guns, forcing people to give money, illegal drug activities and other crimes will not be tolerated in the state.
He said the command will continue taking steps to prevent crime, dismantle criminal networks and bring offenders to justice.
All the suspects are in custody while investigations continue.