Eight suspects arrested as troops raid cultists camp in Bayelsa

The Nigerian Army has arrested eight suspected members of a cult group in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. 

Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, October 20, 2023, said the suspects were arrested when troops of 16 Brigade on Exercise STILL WATERS III successfully conducted a raid operation on a cultists’ camp at Otuabagi community. 

According to the statement, the troops recovered one Baretta pistol, a locally made double barrel pistol, 5 rounds of 9mm ammunition and cannabis from the suspect. 

“The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja in a proactive move, recently flagged off various exercises across the geopolitical zones in the country to mitigate surge of insecurity in the months dovetailing to the end of the year 2023,” the statement reads.

“These exercises are already yielding positive results, as troops of 16 Brigade on Exercise STILL WATERS III successfully conducted a raid operation on a suspected cultists’ camp within Oloibiri oil field, at Otuabagi community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State

“During the operations, 8 members of the cultist group were nabbed in their hideout. The troops also recovered from the cultists, one Baretta pistol, one locally made double barrel pistol, 5 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 3 live cartridges, one Baofeng communication radio, one binocular, 2 mobile phones and substance suspected to be cannabis

“The suspects are currently under custody undergoing further interrogation.”