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PORT HARCOURT – The Rivers State Police Command says it has recorded a significant progress in its sustained crackdown on cult-related violence in Port Harcourt, with the arrest of eight key suspects linked to the deadly rivalry between the Blood Suckers (BS) and D12 factions of the notorious Deygbam cult group in Diobu.
The command’s Spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, noting that the latest operations have neutralized major actors, recovered high-caliber weapons, and restored calm to the troubled area.
According to her, the violence, which erupted in May 2025 and claimed several lives, threw residents into panic until the police intensified surveillance and intelligence-led raids in the area.
Those arrested were identified as Diepreye Gogo-Abite (43), Godsfollow Monday (30), Ifeanyi Sampson (28), Gift Emmanuel (28), Friday Godwin (24), Chukwemeka Dike (31), Brown Otu (23), and Dieseyi Ukulu (43).
Items recovered from the suspects include one Scorpion VZ61 submachine gun, one fabricated English-made Beretta pistol, twenty rounds of 5.56mm live ammunition, two rounds of 9mm ammunition, and a pair of screwdrivers disguised as sunglasses.
The statement revealed that the weapons were discovered in a black bag at Ukulu’s residence following his confession during interrogation.
Providing a breakdown of the operations, SP Iringe-Koko said that Chidiebere Nwaiwu, alias Daddy, the group’s alleged chief armourer, was arrested on August 26, 2025, for gunrunning but died in hospital the next day after falling ill. His remains have been deposited in the mortuary for autopsy.
Before his arrest, Daddy was said to have planned an ambush on police personnel deployed to the Rumuosi/Rumuagholu axis over a land dispute, in collaboration with Michael Ejike (a.k.a. Effizy) and Clinton Anwusor.
Ejike, who fled to Imo State, was later arrested on September 16, 2025, and confessed to retrieving weapons from Daddy’s house through his sister on the instructions of Ugochukwu Ukeagbu (a.k.a. Ugo King), identified as the Blood Suckers’ leader.
SP Iringe-Koko added that investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the network and recover more illegal firearms.
She explained that the command’s initial silence on the matter was strategic to avoid compromising the investigation and to ensure the arrest of all accomplices.
The suspects, she said, are now facing prosecution in court, while additional charges will follow upon the conclusion of further investigations.
Commending the operatives for their bravery, the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, praised their professionalism in dismantling the cult network and restoring peace to Diobu and its environs.
He also thanked residents for their cooperation and urged them to remain vigilant and continue supporting security agencies in the fight against crime in the state.
