ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State Police Command has apprehended a suspected cultist and armed robber in Asaba, recovering two locally fabricated firearms in a well-coordinated sting operation aimed at curbing violent crime in the state capital.
Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the DOPS Buffalo Team, led by Commander DSP Charles Evboifo, stormed a food canteen on June 9, a location described by investigators as a known hideout for cultists and criminal gangs. The team arrested one Kingsley Ugochukwu, 40, who reportedly attempted to conceal evidence by discarding a locally made Beretta pistol upon sighting the police.
In a twist that expanded the scope of the investigation, police say Ugochukwu made a suspicious phone call to his wife shortly after his arrest. The content of that call, according to authorities, raised red flags and prompted further probing.
“During a preliminary interview, the suspect placed a call to his wife instructing her to remove another weapon hidden in their home,” a source close to the investigation revealed. Acting swiftly on this lead, officers arrested the suspect’s wife, whose confession led them to an uncompleted building where a long-range single-barrel gun was hidden and subsequently recovered.
The arrest marks another win for the police in the ongoing clampdown on cult-related violence and illegal arms proliferation across Delta State.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, praised the operatives for their swift and effective response, assuring residents of the Command’s unwavering resolve to rid the state of criminals.
“We are committed to ensuring the safety and security of all Deltans. We urge members of the public to support the police by providing timely and credible information,” the CP said.
Police say investigations are ongoing, and the suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of the case file.
The arrest comes amid renewed efforts by the Delta State Command to restore public confidence and dismantle criminal networks operating in the metropolis.
