Police arrest suspected cultist, recover fake gun in Enugu raid

Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command have arrested a 28-year-old suspected armed robber and cultist, Osani Joseph, during a raid in the Enugu metropolis.

The suspect, a resident of Premier Layout in Enugu, was apprehended by officers of the Anti-Cultism Sub-Unit of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) following an intelligence-led operation at a suspected criminal hideout in the New Artisan area of the city.

The Command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday.

According to him, the operation was carried out at about 8:30 p.m. on May 26 following credible intelligence.

Items recovered from the suspect included a silver-coloured imitation handgun, a dagger, 10 wraps of a substance suspected to be methamphetamine, popularly known as Mkpuru Mmiri, and a sachet containing a substance suspected to be cannabis.

Ndukwe said the suspect allegedly confessed to using the gun-like object to rob unsuspecting members of the public and also admitted belonging to the Supreme Vikings Confraternity.

The statement read: “Enugu State Police Command Operatives attached to Anti-Cultism Sub-Unit of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), on 26th May 2026, at about 8:30 p.m., acting on credible intelligence, stormed a blackspot at the New Artisan area of Enugu and arrested one Osani Joseph (male, aged 28), of Premier Layout, Enugu.

“During a search conducted on the suspect, operatives recovered one silver-coloured gun-like object allegedly used by the suspect to rob unsuspecting members of the public, one dagger, ten wraps of substance suspected to be methamphetamine, and one sachet containing substance suspected to be Cannabis sativa.”

The police spokesman said investigations were ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the suspect’s alleged criminal network, adding that he would be prosecuted upon the conclusion of investigations.

Reacting to the arrest, the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, CP Bitrus Giwa, reiterated the command’s commitment to tackling crime and criminality across the state.

He urged residents to remain vigilant and law-abiding while continuing to support the police with timely and credible information.