Twenty-one persons believed to be among those terrorizing Sapele town and adjourning areas have been arrested in a joint security raid by the Army, Navy, Police, DSS, Nigeria Defence Corps and Vigilante.
In the operation coordinated by the 19 Battalion, those arrested were picked up following information that they have a hand disrupting the peace in Sapele Local Government Areas through their criminal activities.
Investigations revealed that following a spike in cult-related activities and other crimes in Sapele, the Joint Security Team swung into action and arrested more than sixty persons.
It was gathered that after profiling those arrested twenty-one persons were held back and would be handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.
Reports indicate that those arrested belong to four different cult groups that have been making life unbearable for innocent peace-loving people in the area.
It was also revealed that some of the suspects were arrested at Oghara, Jesse and Mosogar in Ethiope West Local Government Area, during which three of them who engaged in a scuttle with the security men died while one was injured.
Speaking off-camera, some of the suspects claimed they were picked up by security men and denied any involvement in criminality.
A lady who was among the suspects claimed she was on a visit to her male friend, when the security men stormed the residence, searched his apartment and recovered three locally made guns and a bullet.
One of them said he was arrested for driving a vehicle with tainted glass and revealed that he was previously in Ghana.
Two others who were picked up in Oghara said they are motorcycle operators and could not understand why they were arrested.
As of the time of this report, the suspects have been taken to the State Police Command in Asaba for investigation and possible prosecution.
