Delta Police Smash Criminal Networks, Arrest 85 Suspects, Recover 32 Firearms

The Delta State Police Command has intensified its offensive against violent crime, recording the arrest of 85 criminal suspects, the rescue of 18 kidnapped victims and the recovery of 32 firearms in a series of intelligence-led operations carried out across the state over the past three months.

Addressing journalists during the Second Quarter Press Briefing held at the Command Headquarters in Asaba on Monday, the Commissioner of Police, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, said the achievements were recorded between April 29 and June 29, 2026, through sustained intelligence gathering, strategic deployment of personnel, coordinated raids on criminal hideouts, enhanced stop-and-search operations and collaboration with local vigilante groups.

According to the police commissioner, the Command remained committed to combating kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, drug trafficking and other violent crimes across Delta State, adding that the successes presented represented only a fraction of the Command’s achievements during the period under review.

Giving details of the anti-kidnapping operations, Oyeniyi disclosed that operatives acting on credible intelligence arrested a suspected kidnapper, Shehu Malami, 45, at Ogor Market in Ughelli on April 29. The suspect later led operatives to his hideout at Agbarha-Otor, where one AK-47 rifle and 63 rounds of live ammunition were recovered. Investigations linked him to a kidnapping syndicate responsible for a series of abductions in Ughelli, Agbarho, Sapele, Warri and neighbouring communities, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang.

In another operation conducted jointly with local vigilantes, the Divisional Police Officer of ‘A’ Division, Ughelli, arrested two suspected kidnappers, Iliyasu Hassan, 16, and Idris Abdulkarim, 32, after they emerged from a nearby forest on June 22 to purchase food and medication following a failed kidnapping attempt. Police said the suspects were later identified by one of their earlier victims as members of the gang involved in the attempted abduction.

The Command also recovered another AK-47 rifle loaded with five rounds of live ammunition after operatives of the State Anti-Kidnapping Unit trailed suspected kidnappers to their hideout in the Ubulu-Okiti forest on May 18. The suspects reportedly engaged the operatives in a gun duel before fleeing into the forest, abandoning the weapon and other incriminating items.

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In another breakthrough, operatives of the Command Anti-Vice Squad rescued a three-year-old child who was allegedly abducted by a commercial motorcyclist entrusted with conveying the child to and from school. Oyeniyi said following a complaint by the child’s father, technical intelligence assets were deployed, leading to the arrest of the suspect, Kelvin Ogaga, who demanded a ransom of N500,000. Police recovered N127,000, believed to be part of the ransom payment, while the child was rescued unharmed and reunited with the family.

On homicide investigations, the police commissioner confirmed the arrest of Adedamola Michael Oyewole, 31, for the alleged murder of Habibatu Aruwa, a 21-year-old final-year Law student of the University of Port Harcourt.

He said detectives attached to ‘B’ Division, Warri, responded to a distress call on June 24 and found the victim lying in a pool of blood inside her apartment. She was confirmed dead at the hospital. During interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed that an argument erupted after the deceased discovered he was married to a woman residing in the United States, during which he stabbed her in the neck, stomach and thighs. Investigation into the case is ongoing.

Oyeniyi also gave an update on the murder of Bishop Chinedu Okonkwo, who was allegedly killed by his driver on May 12 in Ibusa. According to him, the suspect fled Delta State after the incident but was arrested by operatives of the Anambra State Police Command at Akwuzu while attempting to sell the bishop’s Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep. Further investigation revealed that the suspect had earlier absconded with a company’s 2016 Toyota Corolla while working in Rivers State. The suspect has since been charged to court.

On intelligence-led operations against cultism, the commissioner disclosed that operatives of the Command Anti-Cultism Unit arrested two suspected cultists, Okonkwo Prosper, 26, and Tuesday Emmanuel, 25, during a raid on a criminal hideout in Ibusa. Recovered exhibits included an English pump-action gun loaded with five live cartridges, a cutlass, charms and substances suspected to be illicit drugs.

The police also recovered one AK-47 rifle, one Beretta pistol and six rounds of live ammunition during a search operation in a bush near the Customs Checkpoint along the Benin-Asaba Expressway on May 2, following credible intelligence.

Similarly, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit stormed a suspected Eiye cult initiation ground in Agbarho on June 16 following intelligence that members linked to recent cult-related killings were planning fresh attacks and the initiation of new members. The suspects allegedly attacked the operatives on arrival, leading to a gun battle in which two suspects sustained gunshot injuries. Twenty-five suspects were arrested, while one pump-action shotgun and one cut-to-size firearm were recovered.

The commissioner further revealed that operatives raided the notorious Best Lodge criminal hideout in Oko Community on April 27, resulting in the arrest of 14 suspected armed robbers and cultists comprising 13 males and one female. Exhibits recovered included a locally made firearm, three live cartridges, dangerous weapons, suspected Indian hemp, mobile phones and cash.

In the fight against illicit drugs, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit arrested two suspected drug dealers, Onyedikachi, 40, and Edna Karaki, 36, at a drug distribution point in Amukpe, Sapele. Recovered substances included Tramadol, CSC Codeine, MDMA (Molly), Swinol, Vagadine, Red Boy, Zaza, Taker and other controlled substances, with investigations indicating that the suspects were actively engaged in the sale and distribution of illicit drugs.

Summarising the Command’s overall achievements, Oyeniyi disclosed that 85 suspects were arrested during the period, including four suspected kidnappers, five murder suspects, 76 suspected cultists and seven drug-related suspects. He added that 18 kidnapped victims were rescued, while 46 cultism suspects and five drug suspects had already been charged to court, with 30 cultism suspects still under investigation.

The Command also recovered a total of 32 firearms comprising three AK-47 rifles, four pump-action guns, two Beretta pistols, two locally made revolver pistols, three locally made cut-to-size firearms, 17 locally made single-barrel guns and one locally made double-barrel pistol.

In addition, police recovered 197 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition, 219 live cartridges and various illicit substances including Tramadol, CSC Codeine, Rohypnol, Swinol, MDMA (Molly), Canadian Loud, Indian hemp, Monkey Tail, Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas), Tianeptine (Zaza) and psychoactive chewing gum popularly known as “Highness Gum.”

The commissioner assured residents that the Delta State Police Command remains resolute in making the state hostile to criminals while ensuring the safety of law-abiding citizens. He urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to the police, stressing that security remains a collective responsibility.