Police corporal among suspected cultists arrested in Rivers

The Rivers state police command has arrested two suspected cultists during an operation at the University of Port Harcourt on September 26.

Among the suspects was Onwukwe Godswill, a police corporal attached to the Elimgbu division.

The other suspect was named as Ifeanyi Israel, a 200-level Biomedical Technology undergraduate at the university.

The suspects were apprehended by the university’s internal security team ahead of a potential clash between rival cult groups on campus.

The police Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU) took the suspects into custody.

In a statement, Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson of the Rivers police command, said a search of the suspects yielded two locally made pistols, four live cartridges, two rounds of 9mm ammunition, and a small axe.

She added that further searches at Onwukwe’s residence uncovered an additional locally made pistol and two machetes.

The spokesperson said the suspects and recovered items remain in police custody as investigations continue to determine the extent of their involvement in cultism and related crimes.

She said the police command is also probing potential networks and accomplices.

“The suspects and exhibits are currently in police custody. An in-depth investigation has been launched to determine the full extent of the suspects’ involvement in cultism and other related activities,” the statement reads.

“The police command is working diligently to unravel any potential networks or accomplices and bring all perpetrators to face the full weight of the law.”

Olugbenga Adepoju, commissioner of police in Rivers, reiterated the command’s commitment to ensuring peace and security in the state.

He warned that criminals would find no refuge in Rivers and implored the public to report suspicious activities to the police or security agencies.