In a renewed crackdown on political thuggery and cultism ahead of the November governorship election in Anambra State, operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have arrested a notorious suspected cultist and political thug identified as Onyeaka Odogwu, popularly known as Red Angel, aged 29.
Spokesperson of the Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the arrest in a statement issued in Awka, said the suspect was apprehended on October 24, 2025, at about 11:30 a.m. during an intelligence-led operation carried out by operatives of the Special Anti-Cult Squad (SPACS) in Enugu-Ukwu.
According to Ikenga, the police team recovered an assortment of firearms and incriminating items from the suspect. The items include two pump-action guns, two English-made double-barrel guns, three live cartridges, red cloth and regalia bearing cult insignia, three black caps, and two red caps with inscriptions linked to the Vikings Confraternity.
He explained that during interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a member of the Vikings Confraternity and admitted his involvement in activities related to political thuggery. Following his confession, Odogwu led SPACS operatives to the gang’s armoury located in Omor, where the recovered exhibits were retrieved in the early hours of October 26, 2025.
“All recovered exhibits have been properly documented as evidence, while further investigations are underway to track and apprehend other gang members and associates mentioned by the suspect,” Ikenga stated.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, fwc, minps, PhD, while commending the operatives for their swift action, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to ensuring a peaceful, safe, and credible election in the state.
He warned that the Command would not tolerate the activities of cult groups, armed gangs, or political thugs seeking to destabilize the state ahead of the polls.
“Parents, community leaders, and youth groups must discourage young people from being lured into cult-related activities or political violence. The Command assures Ndi Anambra of enhanced security deployment across all Local Government Areas to guarantee the safety of lives and property before, during, and after the election,” the Commissioner said.
The arrest adds to a series of proactive security measures by the Anambra Police Command aimed at curbing cult-related violence and preventing the infiltration of armed political elements as the state prepares for the upcoming governorship election.
