ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State Police Command has recorded a major breakthrough in its crackdown on illegal arms trafficking with the arrest of four suspected members of a gun-running syndicate allegedly linked to the unlawful possession and movement of a Beretta pistol recovered in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.
The arrests followed an intensive investigation launched after the recovery of the firearm at a transport park in Effurun on May 1, 2026. The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda Oyeniyi, disclosed that the suspects were apprehended through intelligence-led operations conducted across Bayelsa and Imo states.
According to a statement signed by the Commissioner of Police on Monday, the suspects were identified as Emmanuel Chukwuemeka, Clifford Boleyelefa, Amadi Princewill and Amadi Felix Chibuike, all of whom are alleged members of the Black Axe confraternity.
Police investigations revealed that Emmanuel Chukwuemeka was arrested in Bayelsa State on May 4, 2026, alongside a friend and roommate whose mobile phone was allegedly used to facilitate communication for the purchase of the firearm.
During interrogation, Chukwuemeka reportedly confessed to purchasing the Beretta pistol from Amadi Princewill for N290,000 before reselling it to a suspect identified simply as Desmond, who is currently at large, for N380,000.
Investigators further alleged that Desmond subsequently arranged for the firearm to be transported to Effurun and contacted one Oghenemine Ogidi, now deceased, to retrieve the weapon and facilitate its onward movement to Sapele.
Acting on information obtained from Chukwuemeka, police operatives tracked and arrested Amadi Princewill in Imo State on May 15, 2026.
Further interrogation of Princewill allegedly led detectives to another suspect, Amadi Felix Chibuike, who was arrested in Owerri, Imo State, on May 16, 2026.
Police said Princewill confessed that he had obtained the firearm from Felix for N200,000, helping investigators establish what they described as a chain of illegal arms transactions involving the suspects.
The command stated that the arrests underscore its commitment to dismantling criminal networks involved in the proliferation of illegal firearms and other violent crimes across Delta State and neighbouring states.
The police further disclosed that all four suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations, while efforts have been intensified to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate, including the suspect identified as Desmond.
CP Oyeniyi reassured residents of the state’s determination to rid communities of criminal elements, urging members of the public to continue providing useful information that could assist security agencies in combating crime and enhancing public safety.
The command reiterated its commitment to intelligence-driven policing and sustained operations aimed at curbing the circulation of illegal arms and reducing criminal activities across the state.
