Over three hundred repentant cultists operating within the Marine base/ Borokiri axis have surrendered their arms and ammunition in Salvation Ministry Church, Port Harcourt.
Briefing newsmen on Tuesday at the Rivers State Police command headquarters at Moscow Road, the State Commissioner of police, Zaki Ahmed who received the arms and ammunition said that it was in accordance with the directives of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim K. Idris, to mop–up all illegal firearms, of which aggressive awareness and sensitization campaigns were deployed all over the State, including Religious houses.
Ahmed said 11 out of the 20 suspects were kidnappers while others were armed robbery and car snatching, suspects.
He noted that most of the suspects were arrested by the Federal Special Anit-Robbery Squad in the state.
The commissioner said 15 cars of different makes, nine pump action gums and 20 locally made pistols, and several ammunitions were recovered from the suspects.
He advised members of the public whose cars were stolen to come with relevant documents for identification and collection of the vehicles.
The CP said the campaign has paid off, as weapons have been surrendered by repentant cultists who are now born-again Christians (courtesy of Salvation Ministry) and are now members of the Salvation Ministry.
He also disclosed that the repentant cultists are currently being engaged in vocational training by the church with all expenses being paid by Salvation Ministry.
However, the CP used the medium to call on all well-meaning members of the public and other religious bodies to emulate Pastor David Ibiyeomie, the General Overseer of Salvation Ministry, by taking the gospel to the creeks.
Also, Pastor Allen Oye, of the Marine base Satellite branch of Salvation Ministry, who also represented the general overseer of Salvation Ministry, Pastor Ibiyeomie, said the three hundred repentant cultists mainly resident at Marine Base/Borokiri axis of Port Harcourt, gave their lives to Christ and surrendered their arms during Pastor David Ibiyeomie’s street evangelism around the area.
He noted that the repentant cultists have undergone an all-expense paid Bible school to bring to their knowledge their new identity in Christ, adding that after the bible school, the church will immediately engage them in an all-expense paid skill acquisition training in diverse field, and thereafter, empower them to start their business to be able to fend for themselves as well as their families.
One of the repentant cultist, Peter Chukwuemeka, who holds a diploma in public administration, said after the completion of his diploma program, there was nothing else for him to do and thus, became confused and decided to join Iceland (name of his cult) and that ever since he joined the cult, things have moved from bad to worst.
Meanwhile, paraded today at the command headquarters were two suspected armed robbers, who were arrested by the operatives of the federal special anti-robbery squad (F-SARS).
The suspects were traced to their hideout in Ada–George in Port Harcourt, where they were arrested with military gears.
Also paraded were a six-man gang of suspected kidnappers operating in an unregistered police colour ford ranger van and police accoutrements.
The six-man gang suspected kidnappers had confessed to the numerous kidnapping operations carried out in the state which include:
1. The kidnap of Chief Emmanuel Ogbuji (m) of Igwuruta town on the 12/6/18
2. The kidnap of one Adewale Kazeem (m) of No. 2, Rumupashi on the 24/12/17.
3. The kidnap of one Ikechukwu Okorie (m) of Eneka on 11/2/18, his Toyota Camry spider was robbed but later recovered.
4. The kidnap of one Mike Nagwu of Eneka road, Port Harcourt.
Also paraded were three men kidnapping gang at Nkpor village, Rumuolumeni. They were arrested at different times and locations and have confessed to having carried out different kidnapping operations, including the kidnapping of barrister Amadi Opurum (m), who was kidnapped on the 10/5/18 at location road by Ada George, Port Harcourt. Their confessions led to the recovery of a Lexus 330 jeep with registration number 863 AE belonging to the lawyer.
