Just In: Police Gun down Suspected Cult Kingpin
The Delta state police command says a suspected cult kingpin was gunned down during a shootout with the police in Asaba, the Delta state capital, last weekend.
The police commissioner in the state Hafiz Muhammed Inuwah who spoke to journalists in Asaba, said that the cult leader was killed by the superior fire power of the police when he engaged the men in gunfire, adding that he was rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead.
Inuwah explained that some of the cultists had been arrested within the last few weeks when the cultists put parts of Asaba under siege, and that the police were seriously working to get all the cultists out of the state, pledging that the police could “not afford to sleep until we are through with these cultists in the state.”
The divisional police officer (DPO) at the” B” Division of the Nigeria Police, Okumagba Avenue, Warri, CSP Benjamin Igometi, has also assured that he would fight crime and strengthen security in the area, noting that he had to synergise with the media to maintain cordial relationship.
He said “we are trained and if policemen deliberately erred and were involved in crime he can be tried and dismissed from the police,” disclosing that what he met on ground as regards security would be improved upon.
Recall that a group of civil society organisations had, last week, stormed the streets of Asaba, calling for stiffer penalties for confirmed cultists, urging security agencies to rise to the challenge.
Leader of the group, Mr Victor Ojei, said that, in the past two weeks, a lot of persons involved in cult activities had been arrested in connection with the killings as they had also been charged to court, adding “we say ‘no’ to cultism; government should put an end to the situation; enact laws of punishment for cultists among others.”
Meanwhile, CP Hafiz Muhammed Inuwah said that over 67 suspected cultists had, in the last few weeks, been arrested, adding that the police were determined to get rid of all criminal activities in the state, especially kidnapping and armed robbery and warned that those causing troubles and those aiding criminal activities would soon be fished out.
