Operatives of the Imo State Police Command, working alongside the State Security Organization, have arrested a suspected cultist and recovered a firearm from him in Nekede, Owerri West Local Government Area.
The Command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, disclosed that the arrest followed credible intelligence about suspicious activity along Old Nekede Road in the early hours of March 21, 2026.
Acting on the tip-off, security operatives moved swiftly to the location and apprehended a 26-year-old suspect identified as Bright Chidi.
Items recovered from him include a locally made single-barrel pistol and a live cartridge.
Okoye added that during preliminary interrogation, the suspect admitted to being a member of the Vikings Confraternity, a group linked to violent criminal activities in the area.
He further stated that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation, while efforts are ongoing to track down other members of the group.
“To this end, the Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso, has ordered a sustained intelligence-led crackdown on criminal elements across the state and urges residents to support the police and other security agencies with timely and credible information to enhance public safety,” Okoye added.
