* Gov Okowa and CP, Zanna Ibrahim
In the continued spate of increasing rate of cultism, kidnapping and child trafficking across Delta State, the State government rising from an emergency security meeting which also had in attendance the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Zanna Ibrahim, has declared a state-wide  war against cultists and their sponsors. 

 Spear-heading  the crusade with a view to ensuring Delta residents can sleep with their two eyes closed, is the State Deputy Governor, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro who told journalists Thursday  in Asaba that no effort will be spared in bringing those involved in crimes and their sponsors to book. 

 Otuaro noted that the import of the security meeting was for the relevant stakeholders in the society to seek ways of addressing the dastard cult activities and other crimes which had almost made the state “Unsafe”, adding that the state government had also put all measures in place to win the war against the evils in the society. 

 While calling on all relevant stakeholders to fashion out ways to address the evil trend, as well as join hands with the state government to fight the ills, the State Deputy Governor disclosed that government was prepared to bring those involved and their sponsors to book, Investigation revealed that cult activities thrive in Asaba, Ughelli, Ibusa, Okpanam, Ugbolu and Agbor as many of its membership are allegedly top politicians including title holders. Sources said that “high profile” indigenes of Asaba and its environs are also alleged sponsors of various cult activities to press home their oppressive manners in unsuspecting members of the public. 

 Expectedly, cultists modus operandi, especially membership of Eiye, Ake and Bikings confraternities is to woo unsuspecting members of the public with 'Greek gifts' through  which they study their targets through the process of establishing their friendship. With hue and cry of cult war in Ogbesowe, Isieke, Umuagu and Ogbeke Square in Asaba, residents feared their activities might be escalated into “bizarre killings” if not checked by security agents. 

 Further investigation revealed that security agents arrest on daily basis not less than ten suspected cult members, particularly in Ibusa town where it is now Mecca of sorts. 

 The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Zanna Ibrahim recently revealled that 289 cult suspects have been arraigned by the police and remanded in the prison custody by court in the past six months. 

 He noted that the State Anti-Cultism Unit established in 2016 with the mandate to eradicate cultism and its related act have arrested 369 cult suspects currently being detained and interrogated for further investigations. 

 The police boss disclosed that parental and home background including society, emotional sickness, had contributed immensely to the involvement of many of the suspects arrested, adding that upon interrogation, they blamed their involving on bad influence of peer groups. 

 He said that investigation by the police indicated that secret cults are rampant in schools all over the world, disclosing that secret cults used to be known among students of higher institution, but currently thriving in secondary and primary schools. 

 Child Trafficking

 Meanwhile, child trafficking in the state has continued to thrive as a couple, Mr. Edwin Ojei and Ngozi Ojei were yesterday arrested by the police in Asaba in the early hours. 

 Confirming the arrest of the suspects, the Police Commissioner in the state, Mr. Zanna Ibrahim, said the police detectives attached to the State CID acted on a tip-off to arrest the suspects around Okwe community Asaba for alleged child trafficking and selling of a new born baby girl for N750, 000. 

 The suspects said to have hailed from Abia State, upon interrogation, confessed to the crime on how they allegedly sold the baby girl for N750,000. 

 “We negotiated with a buyer when we were linked up by one Madam Cash and the buyer agreed before we transfer the baby to her” the suspects said. 

 According to the police boss; “investigation revealed that sometime in the month of November 2016, some suspected child traffickers were arrested in Ekwuoma and were detained for interrogations” adding that among these suspects, is one Nwakama alias Madam Cash as the leader of the group who is also being detained for further investigation.