Suspected cultists kill Delta monarch’s younger brother as group urges state of emergency

Suspected cultists have reportedly killed Idjesa, the younger brother of the Ovie of Ughelli Kingdom, sparking tension and fear in Ughelli town, Delta State. The incident has led to heightened security presence in the area as residents remain apprehensive over possible further violence.

As of the time of filing this report, the Ovie of Ughelli Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Ojakovo Oharisi I, could not be reached for comments. Security operatives were observed stationed at strategic points within Ughelli to maintain law and order.

Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Delta State Police Command were unsuccessful. The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, did not respond to calls placed to his mobile phone or a WhatsApp message sent to him as of press time.

Meanwhile, a civil rights group, the Initiative for Social Rights Concerns and Advancement (ISRCA), also known as “No Justice, No Peace,” has called on security agencies to declare a state of emergency on cultism in Delta State and recover illegal arms and ammunition in the possession of cultists.

The call was made by the National Coordinator of ISRCA, Comrade (Amb.) Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen, in a statement made available to journalists in Warri. He insisted that “these arms must be recovered,” while drawing the attention of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to the worsening cultism menace across the state.

According to the group, cultism has claimed the lives of many young people in Delta State. “It is disheartening to realize that cultism and other forms of vice have eaten deep into the state and continue to threaten the safety of lives and property,” the statement said.

Agberen lamented that the frequent incidents have damaged the image of the state, noting that “when there are depressive stories of cultism, people now guess correctly that Delta State is the setting,” which he said reflects failures in youth engagement, empowerment schemes and rising unemployment.

The group cited recent cult-related killings in Warri South, Ughelli North, Aladja in Udu Local Government Area, and other parts of Delta State, including the state capital and Delta North. While noting the killing of the Ovie’s younger brother, the group warned that if community leaders remain unresponsive, the situation will worsen, urging the Oborevwori-led government to adopt precise and lasting solutions to curb cultism in the state.