ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State Police Command has recorded major breakthroughs in its ongoing crackdown on crime, arresting 34 suspected internet fraudsters and apprehending an armed robbery suspect with a firearm in separate intelligence-led operations across the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed the developments in a statement on Monday, detailing how coordinated efforts by operatives led to the disruption of a cybercrime network and the recovery of illegal arms.
In what authorities described as a significant blow to cybercrime activities, operatives of the Quick Response Squad, led by SP Collins Arrey, on March 28, 2026, stormed a suspected internet fraud hub in Opete following a distress call.
The police said the operation was triggered by a report from a concerned individual who alleged that her younger brother had been held against his will and forced into internet fraud activities.
Acting swiftly on the intelligence, the operatives raided the location, uncovering what investigators described as a well-organised syndicate operating from a residential apartment converted into a cybercrime base.
A total of 34 suspects were arrested during the raid, while items recovered from the scene included 37 laptops, one iPad, seven mobile phones, and a calabash containing suspected charms, an indication of the scale and coordinated nature of the operation.
Sources within the command hinted that the suspects may have been part of a larger network, with investigations ongoing to unravel the full extent of their activities and possible links to other syndicates.
In a separate operation on March 29, 2026, operatives of the Department of Operations intercepted a tricycle along the Ogbolu/Illah Road under suspicious circumstances.
Police said the tricycle rider initially appeared compliant, but one of the passengers suddenly jumped out and fled into a nearby bush in an attempt to evade arrest.
The fleeing suspect was pursued and, upon being cornered, reportedly attacked the operatives with a wooden object in a desperate bid to escape, but was subdued and arrested.
A search of the tricycle led to the recovery of a locally fabricated cut-to-size gun loaded with two live cartridges, confirming the suspect’s criminal intent.
The suspect was identified as Mustapha Musa, 32, from Kogi State, while the tricycle rider, Iyanosor Ogbizi, 34, was also taken into custody for further questioning.
Both suspects are currently in police custody, with the recovered firearm and other exhibits undergoing further investigation.
Reaffirming the Command’s commitment to tackling crime, the Commissioner of Police, CP Yemi John Oyeniyi, said the operations reflect a renewed focus on intelligence-driven policing and swift response to security threats.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and continue to support law enforcement agencies with credible information, stressing that community partnership remains vital in sustaining the fight against crime in the state.
