Suspected cult leader “Play Play" arrested after attack on Rivers community

A suspected cult leader identified as Paul Brown, also known as “Play Play," has been arrested by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny following a reported cult-related attack on Mumakiri community, popularly known as Ajegunle Fishing Settlement, in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, after FOB Bonny received information at about 8:05 a.m. that suspected cultists were terrorising residents of the community and allegedly extorting them of money, fish and other valuable.

Acting on the report, the naval base promptly deployed armed personnel aboard two gunboats to Ajegunle Community to intervene and restore security.

The arrival of the naval team reportedly forced the suspected cultists to flee into the surrounding creeks and bushes.

The troops pursued the fleeing suspects and succeeded in apprehending Brown, while four other suspects escaped into the waterways and adjoining bush areas.

The arrested suspect was taken to FOB Bonny for preliminary investigation, while naval personnel engaged community members, reassured them of continued protection and helped restore normalcy to the area.

Preliminary findings reportedly indicated that the suspects belonged to a small faction of the MEND cult group operating from parts of Andoni Local Government Area, with incursions into communities on Bonny Island.

According to the preliminary investigation, Brown was allegedly the leader of the faction and had been terrorising residents of Ajegunle over their refusal to recognise his purported assembly and pay what was described as “royalties.

"Following the initial investigation, the suspect was handed over to the Nigerian Police Force, Bonny Division, for further investigation and possible prosecution in accordance with the law.

Meanwhile, FOB Bonny and other security agencies operating on Bonny Island have intensified efforts to locate the four fleeing suspects and prevent further incursions into the community.

The swift naval intervention has also renewed attention on the security vulnerability of riverine communities around Bonny and adjoining waterways, where criminal and cult groups can exploit difficult-to-access creeks and the proximity of neighbouring local government areas to mount incursions.