ASABA/Nigeria: Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have recorded major breakthroughs in the fight against crime with the arrest of five suspects linked to unlawful possession of firearms and drug trafficking, as well as the recovery of a locally made revolver pistol and ten bags of substances suspected to be Indian hemp.
The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed the development in a statement issued in Asaba on Saturday, saying the arrests were made during separate intelligence-driven operations carried out by operatives of the Asaba Area Command and the State Anti-Kidnapping Unit (SAKU).
According to the statement, three suspects identified as Musa Sule, 22, Moses Sunday, 26, and Osama Ibrahim, 25, were arrested on May 30, 2026, at about 5:30 a.m. by a surveillance team attached to the Asaba Area Command while on routine patrol behind the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) premises in Asaba.
The police said the suspects were intercepted based on reasonable suspicion and subsequently subjected to a search, during which a locally made revolver pistol and other dangerous weapons were allegedly recovered from them.
The three suspects were immediately taken into custody, while the recovered exhibits were secured as evidence. Police authorities said investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the possession of the firearm and other weapons.
In a separate operation, operatives of the State Anti-Kidnapping Unit arrested two suspected drug traffickers during an intelligence-led stop-and-search exercise along the Onitsha-Benin Expressway.
The suspects, identified as Hilary Aloma and Oki Joseph, popularly known as “Big Joe,” were intercepted on May 29, 2026, at about 4:00 a.m. while travelling in an ash-coloured Mercedes-Benz station wagon with registration number BEN 982 TE.
A thorough search of the vehicle reportedly led to the discovery of ten bags containing substances suspected to be Indian hemp concealed inside the vehicle.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the illicit consignment was allegedly being transported from Edo State to Awka, Anambra State, before the suspects were intercepted by the police operatives.
The suspects are currently in police custody, while the recovered exhibits have been secured pending the outcome of investigations. Detectives are also working to uncover the wider criminal network behind the suspected drug trafficking operation and identify other accomplices connected to the trade.
Commending the operatives for their vigilance, professionalism and commitment to duty, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, reaffirmed the Command’s determination to rid the state of criminal elements.
The police boss warned individuals involved in illegal possession of firearms, drug trafficking, cultism and other criminal activities to desist immediately or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.
He assured residents that the Command remains committed to protecting lives and property through sustained intelligence gathering, proactive policing and strategic operations across the state.
