Four suspected cultists who were hiding inside the ceiling of a hotel in Asaba have been arrested.

Operatives of the CP-DECOY Squad of the state command, while acting on credible intelligence about cultist activities, stormed the hotel at Federal College Junction, Asaba.

The suspects, all male residents of Asaba, Delta State, include 28-year-old Chigozie Edwin, a native of Akpuoga Village in the Ujodo council area of Enugu State; James Prince Chukwuebuka, a 20-year-old native of Effiom Village in the Ezza North local government area of Ebonyi State; Harmony Mkemjika Ohanebum, 30, a native of Okija Town in Anambra State; and Garba Jubril, 27, from Kogmbotō in Kano State.

A statement by the state police public relations officer, DSP Bright Edafe, on Tuesday, said that on sighting the operatives, the cultists immediately took to their heels, dispersing in different directions, but were given a relentless chase before they were smoked out of their hiding.

Two Barretta pistols with two rounds of live ammunition and a locally made cut-to-size gun with one live cartridge were recovered from the ceiling.

The manhunt for the other fleeing members of the gang is ongoing.

Meanwhile, two of the three suspects who abducted a man around Orerokpe in the Okpe local government area of the state have been arrested after an undisclosed ransom was paid.

They are 24-year-old Peter Idogor and Emmanuel Sunday, 19 years old, all from Evwreni Community in Ughelli South Council of the state.

The suspects had earlier contacted the family of the victim, demanding the sum of N5 million in ransom.

Their arrest was the sequel to a distress call in which one man was kidnapped by three armed men.

Upon receipt of the report, a statement added, the Divisional Police Officer swiftly mobilised and led detectives to the scene of the incident, combed all adjoining streets and bushes in search of the hoodlums, and possibly rescued the victim.

The victim was later released after an undisclosed ransom was paid.

However, with the aid of a technically generated intelligence-led investigation, the two male suspects, namely Peter Idogor, age 24, and Emmanuel Sunday, age 19, all of Evwreni Community in Ughelli South, were arrested.

These suspects were linked to the kidnapping of the victim, who has identified the two suspects.

In the meantime, the state police commissioner, Olufemi Abaniwonda, has warned that engaging in any sort of criminal activity in Delta State has dire consequences, as he has unequivocally instructed officers of the command to spare no effort in bringing criminals to account for their actions. (Nigerian Tribune)

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