Officers from the Rivers State Police Command have apprehended a serving Police Corporal, Onwukwe Godswill, alongside Ifeanyi Israel, in connection with cult-related offenses at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
Godswill is currently assigned to the Elimgbu Police Division within Port Harcourt, while Israel is a second-year student pursuing Biomedical Technology at the university.
According to a statement released on Friday in Port Harcourt by the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, the initial confrontation occurred when the university’s security personnel identified suspicious behavior and promptly alerted the Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU) of the Police Command.
Iringe-Koko revealed that the suspects were found in possession of firearms, ammunition, and other incriminating materials.
“On September 26, 2025, around 4:00 PM, during the event marking the graduation send-off for final-year students at the University of Port Harcourt, the institution’s Internal Security team intercepted a suspected cult member, Police Corporal Onwukwe Godswill, attached to the Elimgbu Division, along with Ifeanyi Israel, a 200-level Biomedical Technology student, as tensions hinted at a possible clash with rival cult groups on campus,” the statement detailed.
“Responding swiftly, officers from the Command’s Anti-Cultism Unit were deployed to the location, leading to the arrest of the suspects.”
“A comprehensive search uncovered two homemade pistols, four live cartridges, two rounds of 9mm ammunition, and a small axe,” the statement added.
Further investigations at Corporal Onwukwe’s residence yielded additional weapons, including another locally-made pistol and two machetes.
Iringe-Koko confirmed that both suspects and the seized items remain in police custody as a detailed inquiry is underway to uncover the full scope of their involvement in cult activities and related crimes.
“The Police Command is committed to dismantling any associated networks and ensuring all individuals involved are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” she affirmed.
In a related development, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, reiterated the Command’s unwavering dedication to preserving peace and security throughout the state.
Adepoju emphasized that criminals will find no refuge in Rivers State and called on citizens to stay alert and report any suspicious behavior to the nearest police station or security agency.
He stressed that community cooperation is vital in fostering a safer and more secure environment for everyone.