How Internal Rivalry Led to Arrests of Cultists, Recovery of Fire Arms, Ammunition – Police

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) says it has internal rivalry among cult groups in Diobu area of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital has led to the arrest of a notorious cultist, Diseye Ukulu, and recovery of fire arms and ammunition.

Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko disclosed this on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 via a statement in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

According to her, the operation, which described a significant breakthrough, was in compliance with the directives of the State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, which aims to rid the State of criminal networks.

She further informed that operation in which the 36-year-old Bayelsa State born resident of No. 25 Nnewi Street, Diobu, Port Harcourt, was apprehended was executed by tactical teams of the State Police Command, which included the Special Operations and Intelligence Team, Hawk Tactical Squad, and Anti-Cultism Unit, in collaboration with Diobu local vigilante group members.

She said the operation, which was carried out on Wednesday, July 9, was intelligence-driven, focusing on inter-confraternity rivalries between the D12 and BS secret cult groups, both affiliated with the notorious and dreaded Dey Gbam cult group, which has been linked to recent gruesome killings in the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt.

Iringe-Koko stated that based on Ukulu’s confessed during interrogation, the operatives swiftly mobilized to the residence of Achionu Solomon Chukwuma, also known as ‘Solex’ where they recovered some items including one Scorpion VZ61 submachine gun, one fabricated English-made Baretta pistol, 20 rounds of 5.56mm live ammunition, two rounds of 9mm live ammunition, and one pair of screw driver (sunglass).

“In compliance with the directives of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, psc, mnips, to rid the State of criminal networks, the Command has recorded a significant breakthrough with the arrest of Diseye Ukulu, a 36-year-old male from Bayelsa State, but resident at No 25 Nnewi Street, Diobu, Port Harcourt.

On 9th. of July, 2025, at about 1820hrs, a combined team of Police Operatives from the Special Operations and Intelligence Team (SOIT), Hawk Tactical Squad, and Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU), Port Harcourt, in collaboration with Diobu local vigilante group members, apprehended the suspect.

The operation was intelligence-driven, focusing on inter-confraternity rivalries between the D12 and BS secret cult groups, both affiliated with the notorious and dreaded Deygbam cult group, which has been linked to recent gruesome killings in the Diobu axis of Port- Harcourt.

Following Ukulu’s confession, the operatives swiftly mobilized to the residence of Achionu Solomon Chukwuma, ‘m’ aka Solex and recovered the following exhibits: 1 Scorpion VZ61 submachine gun, 1 fabricated English-made Beretta pistol, 20 rounds of 5.56mm live ammunition, 2 rounds of 9mm live ammunition, and 1 pair of screw driver (sunglasses). All exhibits were concealed in a black bag.  

“The suspect and exhibit are currently in police custody. A thorough and discreet investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being made to apprehend other members of the cult group.”

She added that the State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju has reaffirmed the Command’s unwavering commitment to bringing all perpetrators of crime in the State to justice, urging residents to support the Police with useful and timely information to enable them to make more exploits.