Rivers Police Arrest Notorious Cultist, Recover Sophisticated Ammunition

The Rivers State Police Command said it has recovered one scorpion VZ61 submachine gun, fabricated English-made Beretta pistol, 20 rounds of 5.56mm live ammunition, two rounds of 9mm live ammunition and a pair of screwdriver (sunglasses) from a notorious cultist in the State.

The Police said the recovery was made following the arrest and confession of a 36-year-old suspect, Mr Diseye Ukulu, from Bayelsa State, who resides at No 25 Nnewi Street, Diobu, Port Harcourt.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-koko, who revealed this in a statement on Wednesday, explained that Ukulu was arrested over his alleged involvement in wreaking havoc in Diobu through cult activities.

The statement read in part: “In compliance with the directives of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga A. Adepoju, to rid the State of criminal networks, the command has recorded a significant breakthrough with the arrest of Diseye Ukulu, a 36-year-old male from Bayelsa State, but resident at No 25 Nnewi Street, Diobu, Port Harcourt.

“On 9th of July, 2025, at about 18.20hrs, a combined team of Police operatives from the Special Operations and Intelligence Team (SOIT), Hawk Tactical Squad, and Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU), Port Harcourt, in collaboration with Diobu local vigilante group members, apprehended the suspect.

“The operation was intelligence-driven, focusing on inter-confraternity rivalries between the D12 and BS secret cult groups, both affiliated with the notorious and dreaded Deygbam cult group, which has been linked to recent gruesome killings in the Diobu axis of Port- Harcourt.

“Following Ukulu’s confession, the operatives swiftly mobilized to the residence of Achionu Solomon Chukwuma, ‘m’ aka Solex and recovered exhibits: All exhibits were concealed in a black bag.”

Irinke-Koko noted that the suspect and exhibits were in the Police custody, even as she assured that a thorough and discreet investigation was ongoing, and that efforts were being made to apprehend other members of the cult group.

Meanwhile, the Police commissioner has reaffirmed the command’s commitment to bringing all perpetrators of crime in the State to justice, urging residents of the state to provide useful and timely information to the Police to enable them make more exploits.

Enoch Epelle