The Delta State Police Command has intensified its crackdown on cultism and violent crime with the arrest of seven suspected members of the notorious Maphite Confraternity and the recovery of firearms, ammunition and other incriminating items in separate intelligence-led operations across the state.
The command said operatives of its Special Anti-Kidnapping Unit (SAKU) raided a suspected criminal hideout in Issele-Uku on July 27, 2026, following credible intelligence, leading to the arrest of seven suspected cult members.
The suspects were identified as Promise Esenjor, 26, from Abavo; Wisdom Victor, 23, from Umunede; James Wisdom, 25, from Agbor; Chinedu Munonye, 22, from Issele-Uku; Onyemakonor Collins, 20, from Agbor; Unah Oluchi, 21, from Agbor; and Azomani Favour, 23, from Issele-Uku.
According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects confessed to being members of the dreaded Maphite Confraternity.
Items recovered from the hideout included one double-barrel gun, seven live cartridges, one cutlass, a Maphite cult beret, seven Android mobile phones and other exhibits believed to be linked to the group’s activities.
In a separate operation on the same day, operatives of the Abraka Division foiled a planned gathering of suspected criminals along Omono Road in Abraka after acting on credible intelligence.
The police said several suspects fled upon sighting the operatives, but one suspect, Wale Morakinyo, 27, was apprehended during the operation.
A search of a bag found in his possession led to the recovery of two locally fabricated pistols and four live cartridges. The suspect has been taken into custody, while efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.
Commenting on the operations, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations against cultism, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
He urged residents to continue supporting the police with credible and timely information, stressing that public cooperation remains vital to ongoing efforts to rid the state of criminal elements and enhance security.
The latest arrests underscore the Delta State Police Command’s renewed offensive against cult-related violence and the proliferation of illegal firearms as part of broader efforts to improve public safety across the state.
