Delta State Police Disrupt Cultists’ Forest Initiation, Arrest 13, Recover 4 Guns, Axe, 7 Vehicles
By Felix Mordi
In a zealous effort to sustain its fight against cultism and violent crime, operatives of the Delta State Police Command, demonstrating uniqueness of bravery, took to confronting suspected, deadly cultists in a thick forest, and triumphantly outsmarted them.
The encounter, characterized by heavy shoot-outs, resulted in the capturing of 13 of the cultists, all members of the Aiye Confraternity, also known as Black Axe, and recovery of firearms, as well as other exhibits.
Items recovered from the hoodlums included two automatic Pump-Action guns, one double-barrel cut-to-size gun, one single-barrel cut-to-size gun, one battle axe, aprons bearing “NBM” insignia, razor blades, cut into pieces, several mobile phones, charms, and suspected hard drugs.
Also recovered and towed to the QRS Base in Warri were seven vehicles, believed to be owned and used by members of the cult group.
Disclosing this development in a statement issued by SP Bright Edafe, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), the command received credible intelligence on December 20, 2025, indicating that cultists had converged at Ekraka Community Forest, Kokori in the Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state.
They were said to be on the verge of carrying out the initiation of new members when the Commander of Quick Response Squad (QRS), SP Collins Achem, swiftly activated operational assets and moved to scene.
Described as a highly trained team of operatives, personally led by the commander, they located the cultists’ enclave at about 11:00pm, and in their typical characteristics, the hoodlums, on sighting the operatives, opened fire on them.
”The operatives responded with professionalism and tactical superiority, leading to the arrest of 13 suspects, while several others fled deeper into the forest,” the statement disclosed
Having subdued them, the detectives, thereafter conducted a search of the area and recovered the above-outlined exhibits.
All the suspects have been taken into custody, while investigation is ongoing to establish their individual roles, dismantle the network, and track down other fleeing members of the syndicate.
The command has, consequently, declared its zero-tolerance for cultism and violent crime, even as it called on parents, schools, community and faith leaders, as well as the youths to see the fight against cultism as a shared duty, driven by guidance, positive role models, and timely reporting.
It also urged residents to remain vigilant and continue supporting the Police with credible information, “as efforts to keep Delta State safe continue.”
