By Austin Ogwuda
THE end of violent cult- related killings in Oghara and environs in recent times might end soon as men of the Delta State Police command arrested one of the kingpins from a hideout.
The arrest of the kingpin followed the reported murder of one Destiny Idi according to a press statement issued by the State Police command’s spokesman, Bright Edafe, DSP and made available to The Town Hall Media.
The statement said that “after the brutal murder of Destiny Idi, male, 27 years of Ovade Community at Ovie Road Ogharafe on 5/8/2023 by some suspected cultists the Commissioner of Police CP Wale Abass Psc directed the recently deployed DPO Oghara CSP Olasunkanmi Musiliu to unravel what led to the death of the young man and arrest the perpetrators.
“The DPO led policemen attached the Division’s surveillance Anti-crime patrol team and embarked on a discreet investigation, trailed the mastermind of the act, and at about 1335hrs on the same day while acting on an eyewitness account of the murder of the victim, the team stormed one hotel in Oghara (name withheld) and arrested one (names withheld) ‘m’ age 39yrs, a member Aro Bagger confraternity and a native of Oghara but resident in Mosagar over his involvement in the murder.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the said suspect was part of the syndicate that murdered one Onyekachi Chibuzor A.K.A “ODOGWU” ‘M’ aged 42yrs on 28/7/2023 and also stated that he has been involved in numerous cult-related attacks on perceived opponents in Oghara.
The suspects, though denied being part of the gang that murdered the said Solomon Idi, mentioned the duo of (names withheld names withheld) as those responsible for the murder.
“On 9/8/2023 at about 1130 hours”, the statement went on, “the the suspect led the operatives to the premises of the said (two suspects), but the team met their absence.
“On a thorough search of their premises, two English pump action guns, twenty live cartridges, and one GLK Benz SUV with registration no. RBC-995-DG were recovered.
Suspects and exhibits are in custody while manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.