At least 140 youths, including 40 young women have been arrested by the Police in the Ughelli ‘A’ Division, Delta State for their alleged involvement in cult activities.
It was learnt that the cultists, suspected to be members of a popular cult group (name withheld) were arrested during an End of Year /Initiation Party at a popular hotel in the Ughelli metropolis.
Sources said, the Police, acting on a tip-off by an undercover, stormed the hotel and effected the arrest, while several others fled the area on sighting the armed police officers.
A source who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the members of the cult group went for the initiation party in company of their girlfriends many of whom were alleged to belong to a female cult group called “Black Bra”.
Confirming the arrest, the Area Commander in charge of the Ughelli Area Command, ACP Aworisola Awotunde said, he ordered officers of the Command to invade the venue of the gathering, following a tip off.
On the allegation that some members of a security outfit (name withheld) were among the 140 arrested persons who were later released on self-recognition, Awotunde said, he was not aware of such allegation.
Meanwhile, a young man in his early twenties, was Wednesday night allegedly shot dead by men of Ighovoja street vigilance team in the Ughelli metropolis. The deceased who was identified as Akpos Atile, a native of Ihwremaro-Ughelli community, was reportedly lured out of his house at about 9 pm with a telephone call.
The deceased, a bricklayer, according to a dependable source, was dragged to a nearby street, where his corpse was found the following morning.