RCMP officers have arrested Romana Didulo, the leader of a cult that has been living in a Saskatchewan village for two years, according to a livestream posted by Didulo on Wednesday morning.
The video, shared to Didulo’s followers on Telegram at 5:51 a.m. CST on Wednesday, shows two officers wearing tactical gear burst into a room where Didulo is standing.
“Leave the phone down. You’re under arrest,” one officers says.
Didulo surrenders to officers and the camera is pointed at the floor for a few minutes. Voices off camera then remark that the phone is livestreaming before the video ends.
‘Queen of Canada’ livestreams her own arrest as RCMP deploy to cult headquarters in Sask.
RCMP have not confirmed any arrests so far. The Mounties did issue a warning that there is a large police presence in Richmound, Sask., a village of approximately 118 people, located 365 kilometres west of Regina, near the Alberta border.
RCMP say officers have been deployed as a result of an ongoing investigation in the village.
“There is no known risk to public safety,” RCMP said in a brief statement. “We will provide an update on this investigation later today.”
Didulo and her followers have been living in a former school in Richmound for two years.
Christine Sarteschi, a professor at Chatham University that researches and monitors cults, said Didulo’s followers believe she is the “Queen of Canada.”
“[Didulo] tells them that she is the ultimate authority, that she is the ruler under natural law. She is effectively the supreme ruler of all the land. She tells them they don’t have to pay taxes,” Sarteschi said in an interview on Wednesday.
“It’s anything Romana says and the followers truly believe what she says.”
The cult began as part of the larger Q-Anon movement — which believes there is a secret cabal running the government — and has now evolved into a sovereign citizen movement, Sarteschi said.
Sovereign citizens, also known as freemen of the land, believe laws don’t apply to them.
Didulo’s followers also don’t believe in vaccination and are convinced their leader has alien powers, Sarteschi said.
“I think that they’re attracted to her because she says things that appeal to them,” Sarteschi said.
Didulo’s followers have disrupted local residents since settling in Richmound.
In July, the village office closed its doors to the public outside pre-arranged appointments, citing harassment and intimidation toward staff.
The owner of the property and one of Didulo’s followers Rick Manz was charged with assault, resisting arrest and uttering threats.
Having cult in town like ‘living next to dormant volcano,’ says Richmound, Sask., resident
