Time may have run out for notorious cult groups behind deadly gang wars and killings in Rivers State, as the Police Command beams searchlight on them with severe crackdown, in the process dismantling another gang which specializes in car snatching
By Chinedu Oguh, Jude Nzennaya
Port Harcourt
Amid growing insecurity in Rivers State and the upsurge in kidnappings, cult related killings and other violent crimes wreaking havoc across the state, individuals and groups have called for a thorough review of the state’s security architecture and comprehensive overhaul of community policing.
Recent months have witnessed a disturbing increase in criminal activities in urban and rural communities leading to multiple deaths, widespread fear and disruptions of socio-economic activities.
However, as the cultists embark on their killing spree with reckless abandon, the Rivers State Police Command has begun to deal big blows on the rampaging deadly gangs terrorizing the state by arresting one Diseye Ukulu, 36 and Achionu Solomon Chukwuma (aka Solex), two notorious cultists linked to recent deadly gang wars in Port Harcourt City.
It was learnt that the cultists recently engaged the police in gun duel that claimed over 10 lives, including a taxi driver, who was caught in the cross fire.
The police in a statement confirmed that the arrest was as a result of the Commissioner of Police (CP) Olugbenga Adepoju’s directive to officers to dismantle criminal networks across the state, a directive that was promptly executed through a joint operation.
The team, Tentacle further learnt, comprised police operatives from the Special Operations and Intelligence Team, Hawk Tactical Squad, Anti-Cultism Unit and the Diobu Local Vigilante Group. The intelligence-driven operation specifically targeted the D12 and BS cult groups affiliated with the dreaded Deygbam Cult notorious for their history of gruesome killings around Diobu axis.
In the same vein, a 300-level student of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education was also shot dead by suspected cultists. A source privy to the killing said the assailants were members of a rival group.
The source, who is also a student of the university, affirmed that the killers trailed the victim to an area in Rumuolumeni, the host community and shot him dead.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Grace Iringe-Koko in a statement issued on Saturday, July 20, 2025, stated that about 11:30am, the command received a report at the Rumuolumeni Police Station that one Julius Okpor, a 300-level student of Ignatius Ajuru University and an indigene of Okposi in Ogba/Egbema, Ndoni Local Government Area was allegedly shot by members of a rival cult group.
“Preliminary investigation suggest that the attack may be connected to the on-going rival cult activities” she went further to say that police has launched a full scale investigation to apprehend those responsible and bring them to justice.
In a related development, cultists have also killed a respected community leader in the state, Chief Ferdinand Dabiri. The deceased Chief, who was the Vice Chairman of the Obelle Council of Chiefs in Emohua Council of Rivers State and in his 70s, was shot during a community town hall meeting.
Tentacle further learnt that the dastardly act was carried out by suspected members of Iceland cult group terrorizing the area led by one “Cairo,” who approached the town hall venue of the meeting and shot the wealthy chief severally before he gave up the ghost and the cultists left immediately after confirming him dead.
Our source again said that in November, 2024, the some “Cairo” led his deadly gang and killed Akpata Amadi, a member of the local vigilante group and others in Obelle.
Similarly, Rivers Police Command has arrested suspects in connection with the murder of Barrister Bright Owhor, just as a statement by the 
police command indicated that following the killing of Barrister Bright Owhor, 46 “M” of No. 40C Market Road, Rumuomasi, Port Harcourt by unidentified gunmen on July 6, 2025, operatives of the Anti-kidnapping Unit were deployed to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Police reports also confirmed that through meticulous intelligence and technical surveillance for over 10 days all individuals involved in the crime were identified and apprehended. They include Prince Samuel ‘m’ 30 armed operative, Daniel Godwin ‘m’ 25–driver of the gateway vehicle, Henry Peter ‘m’ 24-arm supplier and one who shot the victim. Godfrey Emmanuel ‘m’ aka Ibu 30 and gang leader, Chukwu Nneji ‘m’ 27, Promise Wikere ‘m’ 22 and handler of stolen vehicles.
During interrogation, the suspects confessed to being members of the Deygbam secret cult group and admitted to their roles is the killing, withdrawal of funds from victims bank account and involvement in recent cult-related violence between Bs and G12 Deygbam factions in Diobu, Port Harcourt.
The press release further stated that the recovered exhibits included one MTN SIM card, four locally made pistols, seven rounds of gum ammunition, two live cartridges, one mini bus and one Toyota Camry.
In another development, officers and men of the Rivers State Police Command have dismantled a sophisticated car theft syndicate operating across multiple states in Nigeria, leading to the recovery of 22 stolen vehicles and arrest of no fewer than 12 suspects.
Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, said the case began in September 2024 after a report by one Mr. Enoch Daniel, who was dispossessed of his Toyota Hiace bus in a Trailer Park at Onne.
The police spokesperson stated that following the report, the Command’s C4i Strike-Force and Octopus team, launched investigations, leading to the arrest of two suspects identified as John Amadi, 40 years from Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area and Nna Goodluck, 45 from Khana Local Government Area in Rivers State.
She further stated that the two suspects, who were ex-convicts, confessed that they were hired by one Godspower Okpa to snatch the vehicle and were paid ₦90,000 each.
Koko said, further investigations extended to Oyigbo in Rivers State as well as Kano and Akwa Ibom states, resulted in the arrest of key members of the syndicate.
She named the key suspects to include Yakubu Abdullah ‘m’ 35, who was apprehended in Oyigbo; Abdulkareem Saminu ‘m’ 35, who was caught with two stolen vehicles and Adamu Musa, ‘m’, a dismissed Police Officer from Akwa Ibom, who was in possession of 11 vehicles.
The police spokesperson added, “The syndicate is coordinated by Falco Ibrahim ‘m’ currently at large, whose network spans Rivers, Anambra, Taraba, Enugu, Borno, Kano, Delta and Akwa Ibom States. Vehicles were smuggled via his agent, Shehu Shagari ‘m’ now in custody and sold either whole or as parts in Cameroon.”
She listed other members of the syndicate as Onyekachi Igwe ‘m’ 53 years, an ex-convict and Port Harcourt liaison, who confessed to earning over ₦5 million in eight months.
Others include 35-year-old Ikechukwu Joseph and Michael Emerenwa, 40, who were both auto-electricians and who modified vehicles for export.
“Others are Elijah Nwauwa Sunday ‘m’ 45 a self-styled pastor from Owerri, Imo State, who fronted as a spiritual leader while acting as the syndicate’s broker at Mgbuka-Obosi car scrap market, Onitsha, Samuel Ejigbo ‘m’ 39 from Kogi State, an ex-convict and field operator in Port Harcourt and Umar Jabbo ‘m’ 25 from Taraba State, caught attempting to purchase a stolen Toyota Camry,” she said.
Police said these arrests underscored the resolve to make Rivers State hostile to criminal syndicates while calling on residents to remain vigilant and support the Police with credible information.
She added that all suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations, assuring that efforts will be sustained to arrest the ringleader and other fleeing accomplices.
