Troops arrest 8 cultists in Bayelsa, rescue kidnapped victim in Edo

The troops of the Nigerian Army, in the conduct of Exercise Still Water III, have arrested no fewer than eight cultists in a raid on their camp within the Oloibiri oil field at Otuabagi in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Friday, October 20, 2023.

Nwachukwu noted that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, recently flagged off various exercises across the six geopolitical zones to mitigate surge of insecurity in the months dovetailing to the end of the year.

He said the troops of 16 Brigade during the exercise, successfully conducted a raid operation on a suspected cultists’ camp in the community and nabbed the suspects.

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The army spokesperson disclosed that the troops also recovered from the cultists, one Baretta pistol, one locally made double barrel pistol, five rounds of 9mm ammunition, three live cartridges, one Baofeng communication radio, one binocular, two mobile phones, and substance suspected to be cannabis.

“The suspects are currently under custody undergoing further interrogation,” he stated.

Nwachukwu said the troops of 4 Brigade, on a similar exercise on October 18, responded to a distress call by a law-abiding citizen, who reported a kidnap incident at Obagie community in the Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.

He said the troops promptly swung into action and rescued one Miss Blessing Uwenze who was kidnapped by a criminal gang.

The army spokesman said two members of the kidnap gang were arrested and taken into custody for further investigation.

Nwachukwu listed the items recovered from the suspects to include two semi-automatic pump action guns, four live Cartridges, one mobile phone, and fetish items.

“The victim, Miss Blessing Uwenze has since been reunited with her family,” he added.

The Star