12 Arrested, Guns Seized as Delta Police Raid Criminal Hotspots
ASABA/Nigeria: In a major offensive against criminal elements across Delta State, the Police Command has arrested at least a dozen suspects linked to kidnapping, cultism, and armed robbery, recovering a cache of firearms and two stolen vehicles in coordinated operations carried out in three local government areas.
Spokesperson of the Delta State Police Command, SP Edafe Bright, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, said the arrests were in line with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, who has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that Deltans can sleep with both eyes closed.
One of the operations, carried out by the Agbarho Division on April 26, led to the arrest of nine suspects and the rescue of two kidnapped victims. Acting on a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Pius Eredei, led his team into the Uvwiama forest in Ughelli North LGA, where the suspected kidnappers fled upon sighting the police. The team recovered three pump-action guns, three double and single-barrel guns, a locally made pistol, and 13 rounds of live cartridges at the scene. A manhunt has been launched for the fleeing members of the gang.
In another sting operation, the CP’s Special Assignment Team arrested a suspected armed robber and kidnapper, 38-year-old Henry Okpor, at his residence in Ibusa on April 22. The suspect, a native of Ejeme-Aniogor in Aniocha South LGA, had been on the Command’s watch list. He was found with a pump-action gun and two vehicles—a Toyota Highlander (RBC-414-BL) and a Hyundai car (LSD-367-DU)—both suspected to have been stolen from his victims. Investigations revealed the gang’s involvement in multiple cases of car snatching. The police say the hunt for his accomplices is ongoing.
Similarly, on April 25, the CP’s Special Assignment Team arrested two members of a suspected kidnapping and cult gang in Uvwie LGA. The suspects—24-year-old Mudiaga Okparume and 31-year-old Arinze Humble—were arrested following a search operation at Okparume’s residence along Alegbo Road in Effurun. Two Beretta pistols, five rounds of live ammunition, and additional cartridges were recovered. Both men reportedly confessed to being members of the Vikings confraternity and are currently in custody as investigations continue.
“These operations are a clear signal to criminal elements that Delta is not a safe haven for their activities,” SP Edafe Bright said. “We will continue to go after them until they are completely flushed out of our communities.”
He urged residents to continue supporting the police with timely and credible information to help in the fight against crime.
