Delta Police Arrest 16 Suspects, Recover Guns, Stolen Car, Illicit Drugs
Adeola Abiodun
The Delta State Police Command has arrested 16 suspects in separate operations across the state, recovering a pump-action gun, a locally made pistol, a stolen Toyota Camry and quantities of suspected illicit drugs.
The operations, according to the Command, were carried out in Aragba-Orogun, Okpanam, Warri and Ekpan following intelligence-led interventions by its operatives.
In Aragba-Orogun, operatives of the Command Anti-Cult Unit, Ozoro, disrupted a suspected cult gathering and arrested eight persons.
Those arrested were identified as Godspower Achubue, 27; Ziden Edem, 27; Kingsley Aniefem, 36; Omita John, 22; Onumu Happy, 22; Kenneth Ukpurakpo, 22; Juliet Festus, 26; and Oghenegueke Okuanah, 22.
The police said preliminary investigation led operatives to the residence of one of the suspects, where a search warrant was executed.
The search reportedly resulted in the recovery of one pump-action gun and one live cartridge.
The Command said investigation into the matter was ongoing.
In another operation on September 8, operatives of the Okpanam Division arrested a 30-year-old man, Collins Dunkun, over an alleged extortion incident at a construction site.
According to the police, a group of persons had allegedly invaded the site, stopped workers, seized their working tools and demanded ₦700,000 before allowing construction work to continue.
Following a report, police operatives mobilised to the scene, where Dunkun was arrested while six other suspects reportedly fled.
A search of the arrested suspect allegedly led to the recovery of a locally made single-barrel pistol and one cartridge.
The police said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
Also on September 8, operatives of the Divisional Surveillance Team raided an uncompleted building at King Zanga, Ugbuegwai Community, Warri, following intelligence on alleged illicit drug activities at the location.
Five suspects were arrested during the operation.
They were identified as Rabi’u Salihu, 26; Salisu Suleiman, 23; Rabilu Ali, 24; Alhassan Mohd Mansur, 28; and Aliyu Abubakar, 25.
The police said quantities of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, Codeine, Colorado, Rizla, SK and Canadian Loud were recovered from the location.
The suspects are currently in police custody as investigation continues.
Meanwhile, operatives of the Ekpan Division have recovered a Toyota Camry allegedly stolen in Benin City, Edo State, and arrested two suspects in connection with the incident.
The vehicle, a brown Toyota Camry Pencil Light with registration number BEN-572BT, was reportedly stolen on September 7.
Following a report received the next day, police operatives commenced an intelligence-led investigation and traced the vehicle to the New Era area of Jakpa Road, Ekpan.
The operatives subsequently laid an ambush at the location and arrested Destiny Suleman, 41, and Samuel Ejiro, 21, while recovering the vehicle.
The suspects remain in custody as investigation continues.
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel E. Erale, warned that the Command would not tolerate cultism, unlawful possession of firearms, extortion, illicit drug activities or other forms of criminality in the state.
He assured residents that the police would continue to adopt proactive and intelligence-led measures to prevent crime, dismantle criminal networks and ensure that offenders are brought to justice.
The statement was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Command, SP Bright Edafe.
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