The Delta State Police Command says it has in its custody eight suspected members of the Aiye Black Axe confraternity cult group.
A statement by the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Bright Edafe said the eight Aiye Black Axe members were arrested on Wednesday, July 7, a day set aside every year by the cult group “to mark their day and also bring out their ugly faces thereby causing mayhem in the society”.
According to the statement, the buildup to their arrest began when the Divisional Police Officer ‘A’ Division Warri, CSP T.Y Mahmud led men of the Divisional Rapid Respond Squad on visibility patrol and while on patrol, they intercepted and arrested twenty-one-year-old Oghenewaro Bebe of No. 22 of Ughoton area in Okpe Local Government Area, who was in full regalia of the Aiye Black Axe confraternity.
“The suspect confessed to being a member of the above cult group. He led the team to a bush bar at Jeddo which is their meeting point.
“At the bush bar, one live silver like 7.63mm ammunition was recovered. The suspect further led the police to Ughoton community where one of the top leaders of the confraternity Oritsetusem Fenemigho ‘m’ 29yrs is residing, he was arrested along with the following members in the same apartment: Weyinmi Onomakponi ‘m’ 35yrs, Emmanuel Edah ‘m’ 27yrs, Osro Etiosa ‘m’ 23yrs, Oshef Benji ‘m’ 27yrs, Confidence Sunday ‘m’ 18yrs, Akintemeyin James ‘m’ 18yrs, Hope Agbogidi ‘f’ 25yrs.
“The following exhibits were recovered in the apartment: Two (2) locally made pistol, one (1) battles axe, one (1) long cutlass, five (5) customized Aiye pillows, one (1) customized centre table with Aiye logo, one (1) AK 47 expended ammunition, necklace used as a body protection charm, two (2) HP Laptop, six (6) iPhones, two (2) suspected stolen Lexus car keys, one (1) original and a duplicate copy.
“The said Oritseusen Fenemigho equally led the team to Idimi Osobo under Okere Urhobo where they recovered the suspected stolen car,” said the Command in the statement.
Also, on Thursday, July 8, 2021, the Command’s men of Operation Delta Hawk Patrol teams while on stop and search along Cable Point Asaba, intercepted seventeen-year-old Esealuka Paul and when a search was conducted on him the following items were recovered: sixty-eight (68) sachet of dried weed suspected to be Indian hemp, thirty-three (33) sachet of SK, six (6) packs of Razler and one (1) lighter.
He was subsequently arrested and an investigation is ongoing, the police image-maker, Bright Edafe said in the statement.