Army Troops Kill Suspected Cultist, Arrest Another in Delta State Operation

Troops of the 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army, under Operation Delta Safe, have killed one suspected cultist and arrested another during a raid in Pessu community, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The operation, which took place on September 18, 2025, targeted members of a gang accused of kidnapping and violent crimes in the region.

Captain Iliyasu Bawa-Rijau, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for 63 Brigade, confirmed the development in a statement released on Friday.

“The arrested notorious criminal has confessed to be a member of a dreaded gang terrorising the area and its environs and have provided credible information on their activities,” the statement read.

He added that investigators linked the gang to several ransom kidnappings and found evidence of payments made for victims’ release.

According to Bawa-Rijau, troops pursued follow-up operations after intelligence from the arrest.

“The troops conducted a follow-up operation, which resulted in a firefight, during which the neutralised suspect, simply identified as Mr Dele, was shot dead, and a pump-action gun was recovered from the scene,” he said.

He confirmed that the Army has intensified efforts to track down other gang members and recover their weapons.

Meanwhile, Commander of 63 Brigade/Sector 1, Joint Task Force South South, Brigadier MA Shonibare, praised the soldiers for their resilience and urged them to maintain pressure on criminal networks.

He said, “The operation is ongoing, with troops combing the general area, to arrest other members of the gang.

Additionally, efforts are intensified to recover the weapons in their possession.”

Shonibare also reassured Delta residents of continued security patrols and urged them to carry on with their daily activities without fear.

He emphasized that the Brigade would prioritise the protection of lives and property across the state.