Dare Babalola
Onwukwe Godswill, a police corporal attached to the Elimgbu division of the Rivers State Police Command has been arrested over his alleged involvement in cult-related activities.
Godswill was arrested alongside Ifeanyi Israel, a 200-level Biomedical Technology student of the University of Port Harcourt, during an operation carried out on September 26.
Confirming their arrest, the spokesperson of the command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the suspects were apprehended by the university’s internal security team ahead of a potential clash between rival cult groups on campus.
Noting that the police Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU) took the suspects into custody, Iringe-Koko said a search of the suspects yielded two locally made pistols, four live cartridges, two rounds of 9mm ammunition, and a small axe.
She added that further searches at Onwukwe’s residence uncovered an additional locally made pistol and two machetes.
The spokesperson said the suspects and recovered items remain in police custody as investigations continue to determine the extent of their involvement in cultism and related crimes.
She said the police command is also probing potential networks and accomplices.
“The suspects and exhibits are currently in police custody. An in-depth investigation has been launched to determine the full extent of the suspects’ involvement in cultism and other related activities.
“The police command is working diligently to unravel any potential networks or accomplices and bring all perpetrators to face the full weight of the law,” the statement reads.
The state Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, reiterated the command’s commitment to ensuring peace and security in the state.
He warned that criminals would find no refuge in Rivers and implored the public to report suspicious activities to the police or security agencies.
