Following information of criminal activity, troops from 63 Brigade/Sector 1, Joint Task Force, South-South, Operation Delta Safe, in Oshimili North Local Government Area, Delta State, have detained a number of individuals, including a native physician. 

Captain Iliyasu Bawa-Rijau, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 63 Brigade, confirmed the arrests and stated that weapons and ammunition were found during the operations, which targeted members of a well-known cult.

“Their arrest was effected following credible intelligence on the nefarious activities of the criminal gang in a recent operation conducted around Ibusa,” the statement said.

“During the operations, several weapons were recovered, including two pump-action rifles from the criminals, and an additional three pump-action rifles from purported local vigilantes. The suspects and recovered weapons have been handed over to the relevant agency for further investigation.

Additionally, eight more pump-action rifles were recovered at Umuisiagba as a result of follow-up operations. Thirteen suspects in all, including a native physician, were taken into custody. 

Brigadier General M.A. Shonibare, the commander of 63 Brigade, instructed the soldiers to crack down on the local criminal networks while praising their diligence.

Source