The Rivers State Police command has said that it has intensified its hunt for the killers of a Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mohammed Alkali, who was beheaded alongside his orderly during the Rivers legislative re-run election on December 10.

Spokesman of the command, Nnamdi Omoni, said this on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, adding that some persons had earlier been arrested in connection with the murders and they have given the police useful information.

Omoni said: “Members of the gang, who are on the run will soon be arrested.

“The Police Special Intelligence Response Unit has made a major breakthrough toward apprehending the remaining members of the group.

“We will inform the media at the end of our investigation.”

The Police spokesman, however, did not confirm the arrest of one of the leaders of a cult believed to have killed the late DSP.

A senior police officer said, had confirmed the arrests to journalists on condition of anonymity, adding that a mobile phone belonging to the slain police officer was found in the possession of the arrested suspect.

The suspect was said to have been arrested in Omoku town on his way to visit a female friend.

According to the police source, the cult members attacked DSP Alkali and his driver because they felt the police took sides with a major political party in the election against their own party.

Five other suspects were on December 15 arrested by the police in connection with the gruesome murder of Alkali and his driver.

Alkali was attached to Mobile Police Unit 48 and was on routine duty with his driver when they were attacked and killed by members of the cult.