Delta police kill suspected criminal, arrest others

…Recover weapons, cartridges, wraps of cocaine

The Delta State Police Command has killed a suspected kidnapper/armed robber and arrested others along Asaba/Benin expressway.

The police also recovered one fabricated revolver pistol, six rounds of AK 47 live ammunition, 540 rounds of live cartridges and 4054 wraps of substance suspected to be cocaine.

A statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Edafe Bright, on Monday said the suspects attempted to kidnap/rob operatives of Command’s Rapid Response Squad while on undercover anti-crime patrol along Asaba/Benin expressway.

“On 5/6/2022 at about 1235hrs, Operatives of Command’s Rapid Response Squad while on undercover anti-crime patrol along Asaba/Benin expressway, some armed hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers numbering about five {5} suddenly emerged from the bush around Umunede, and fired gunshots at the space bus in an attempt to rob and possibly kidnap the occupants but unknown to them that the occupants were undercover police operatives.

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“The team smartly disembarked from the vehicle and returned fire. The Armed hoodlums on realizing that their potential victims were policemen ran into the bush. The team went into a fierce gun duel with the hoodlums during which three {3} members of the gang were fatally wounded and one fabricated revolver pistol, six {06} 7.62mm live ammunition, four {04} expended 7.62mm ammunition were recovered from them.

“The injured hoodlums were taken to the hospital but died while receiving treatment. Manhunt for the fleeing members of the gang is ongoing,” the statement said.

In another development, the Command’s PRO said operatives of the Anti-Cult Unit raided a criminal hideout in an uncompleted building along Mariam Babangida way, arrested the suspect and recovered weapons, cartridges and other items.

“On  04/06/2022 at about 1445hrs,  acting on a tip-off, operatives of the Command’s Anti-Cult Unit,  raided a criminal hideout in an uncompleted building along Mariam Babangida way opposite North- West filling Station  Asaba, Delta State during which five hundred and forty {540} rounds of live cartridges, three {03} Elepac Generators, one solar light, one {01} singer sewing machine, two {02} television sets and one {01} Lifan motorcycle all suspected to have been stolen were recovered and the suspect named Suleiman Musa ‘m’ age 48yrs was arrested. Investigation is ongoing,” the statement added.

The police also intercepted a commercial vehicle and recovered 4050 wraps of substance suspected to be cocaine and 954 wraps of heroines.  The prime suspect was also arrested in the process.

According to the statement, “On 5/6/2022 at about 1600hrs, Operatives of Eagle-Net Special Squad while on Aberdeen system of patrol along Asaba Ogwashi-Uku expressway, intercepted a commercial vehicle which they subjected to search, during which four thousand and fifty-four {4054} wraps of substance suspected to be Cocaine, nine hundred and fifty-four {954} wraps of heroines were recovered on a bag belonging to one of the passengers named Edea Samuel ‘m’ age 20yrs of Ochele Street off Ojugbana Drive Ezenei, Asaba. Investigation is ongoing.”

Commissioner of Police in the State, CP Ari Muhammed Ali assured residents of the State of taking down all criminal elements while urging them to be “mindful of any suspicious persons or movements in their environment and promptly report such to the Police,” the statement concluded.