Operatives of the Commissioner of Police Special Assignment Team of the Delta State Police Command have dismantled a suspected cult killing network linked to recent violent clashes in Ughelli town.
The operation followed renewed cult-related violence and k!llings in Ughelli and other parts of the state, prompting CP Aina Adesola, the state Commissioner of Police, to order an intensified, intelligence-driven manhunt for cultists and other violent criminals.
Recurrent cult attacks in the state have left several young men d3ad, including the younger brother of Ovie of Ughelli Kingdom, HRH Ojakovo Oharisi III.
Acting on the directive, CP-SAT operatives, led by ASP Julius Robinson, arrested two suspects—Warri Ochuko (40) of Orogun Community and Lucky Okohwoake (23) of Afiesere Community, both in Ughelli North Local Government Area.
The spokesperson of the command, SP Bright Edafe, who confirmed the arrest in a statement on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 said the suspects made confessional statements during interrogation and provided actionable intelligence that led to a coordinated operation across the Ughelli metropolis
Six additional suspects were subsequently arrested: Richard William (28) of Uwheru Community; Onorode Pius (27) of Otor-Udu Community, Udu LGA; Sunday Jakpor (20) of Orhunwhun Community, Udu LGA; Victory Ogbemudia (25) of Oleh Community, Isoko South LGA; Raymond Arhiakpore (39) of Agbara Community; and Precious Wanogho (34) of Orogun Community, all in Delta State.
Edafe disclosed that a locally made firearm and four live cartridges were recovered from the first two suspects.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects confessed to being members of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity and admitted involvement in the k!lling of Alex Adanike (37) on January 15, 2026, at the Iwhrekpokpo area of Ughelli, Ughelli North LGA,” the statement read.
In another development, on 26 January 2026, operatives of the Command’s CP–Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), acting on credible intelligence, stormed a suspected criminal hideout at the Irapa area of Sapele town and arrested three (3) suspects.
“During the operation, three (3) suspects were arrested. They are: Kome Temienoro (male, 25 years) of Jesse Community, Ethiope East LGA; Ogaga Omogene (male, 17 years) of Ugbuwe Community, Ethiope East LGA; and Biokoro Francis (male, 42 years) of Okogborode Community, Sapele LGA, all of Delta State,” the statement read.
“A search of the premises led to the recovery of a wooden-carved pistol, a battle axe, a bulletproof vest, quantities of illicit drugs, and other incriminating items.
“A white Toyota Venza vehicle, suspected to have been used for criminal operations, was also recovered. Profiling and further investigation of the suspects are ongoing to determine the full extent of their criminal activities and possible links to cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police assured residents that the Command remains resolute in its determination to eradicate cultism and other violent crimes in Delta State.
“The ongoing manhunt continues, and members of the public are encouraged to provide timely and credible information, with the assurance of strict confidentiality.”
The prosecution on Wednesday presented five witnesses and video evidence at the trial of content creator Ifeanyi Ogbonna, popularly known as Odogwu Asaba, over alleged rape and manslaughter in connection with the death of 20-year-old Favour Agbro.
The witnesses included Agbro’s twin sister, brother and father, the doctor who conducted the post-mortem examination, and an investigating police officer. The case is being heard by the Delta State High Court in Asaba.
However, the defence counsel requested more time to study the statements of the prosecution witnesses and the additional evidence served on the defence.
Speaking after the proceedings, the prosecution said it was prepared to proceed with the case but acknowledged the need to allow the defence adequate time to examine the materials.
The prosecution team was led by the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Omamuzo Erebe, SAN, alongside the Director of Public Prosecutions, Tejiri Anuhwin, and other state counsel.
Ogbonna had pleaded not guilty to the charges on October 21, 2026, before Justice Michael Nduka Obi. The allegations relate to Agbro’s death in June 2026.
The court adjourned the case until November 19, 2026, for the continuation of the trial, when the prosecution is expected to proceed with its witnesses and evidence.
Recall that the court had remanded the content creator at the Ogwashi-Uku Maximum Correctional Centre after he was arrested and arraigned following allegations of raping Agbro, who later died after ingesting a toxic substance.
The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested a man, Ugwumba Enyinnaya, for allegedly impersonating a lawyer and practising for more than 11 years.
The state Police Public Relations Officerzz, SP Joshua Ukandu, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying the arrest followed an investigation into a petition alleging obtaining money by false pretence.
According to the police, the suspect allegedly collected ₦650,000 from one Chukwu David in March 2026 to facilitate the processing and approval of a street naming in Ohaozara Local Government Area.
The petitioner alleged that Enyinnaya presented himself as a lawyer with years of legal experience.
The police said investigations following his arrest revealed that he had been parading himself as a legal practitioner despite not being a lawyer.
During interrogation, the suspect admitted that he was not a lawyer, according to the statement.
“A search of his apartment led to the recovery of several exhibits, including a Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) seal; a portrait of the suspect dressed in barrister’s regalia; purported Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree certificates for the suspect bearing the name of Enugu State University of Science and Technology; a barrister’s robe and wig; judgements allegedly procured from the court and various legal documents allegedly prepared by him, including powers of attorney and deeds of conveyance,” the statement said.
The police said the suspect had been charged to court.
The Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, CP Hope Okafor, commended the operatives for uncovering the alleged impersonation and urged members of the public to verify the credentials of people offering legal services.
A yet-to-be-identified motorcycle operator has been killed, and two others injured, after a speeding driver, allegedly fleeing police officers, knocked down three motorcycle riders on Liasu Road in the Idimu area of Lagos State.
The incident occurred on Saturday night during a police chase involving a vehicle suspected to belong to Internet fraudsters.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle while attempting to escape from the pursuing officers and knocked down the three motorcycle riders in the process.
One of the riders was said to have died on the spot, while the two others sustained injuries.
It was gathered that the driver and other occupants of the vehicle abandoned it and fled after realising what had happened.
An eyewitness who gave his name simply as Wahab said the vehicle was being chased from the Ile-Iwe end of the road towards the Council bus stop.
He said, “They were coming from the Ile-Iwe side when police officers in a minibus tried to stop them. It was in the process that they increased their speed and drove recklessly.
“It was when the driver lost control that he ran into the okada riders. The one directly hit died on the spot, and the driver and other male adults in the vehicle ran out of the vehicle and fled.”
The vehicle was subsequently towed to the nearest police station, while the injured victims were taken to a nearby hospital.
The incident, however, sparked a protest by commercial motorcycle riders operating along Powerline and Liasu roads, as they stopped conveying passengers to demand justice for their colleagues.
According to another resident, Titi Jayeoba, the protest left several residents stranded as they struggled to find alternative means of transportation.
“We were stranded on Sunday after the okada riders refused to operate. People who depend on motorcycles to get to church and other places were stranded. The tricycles available could not carry everybody, so many people found it difficult to get to their destinations.
“And some were not even interested in tricycles because they would not take them into their streets,” Jayeoba stated.
It was gathered that normalcy had since returned to the area after the motorcycle operators resumed operations later in the evening.
The deceased victim was also said to have been buried according to Islamic rites.
When contacted on Tuesday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, said she was not aware of the incident. She, however, promised to revert.
