The Delta State Police Command says it has arrested members of a suspected kidnapping and armed robbery syndicate as well as a separate group of confessed cultists in two coordinated operations across the state, recovering firearms, ammunition, and a vehicle allegedly used for criminal activities.
In a statement issued on Monday in Asaba, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, said the operations, launched between November 23 and 24, demonstrate the command’s renewed offensive against violent crime under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda.
The statement said the first operation was triggered at about 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, following a distress call on a robbery incident along the Asaba–Benin Expressway around the Dustbin/Mango Tree axis.
It revealed that the Commander of the Eagle Net Special Squad, SP Danyaya Inusa, led surveillance teams in a joint operation with operatives of the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service, headed by DSP Abu Joshua.
“The team reportedly came under heavy gunfire as the suspects attempted an ambush, but the operatives overpowered them after a brief exchange.
“A chase that followed led to the arrest of three suspects, Oghenemaro Martins, Tarebi Ogbada, and Okorie Kalu.
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“The fleeing suspects abandoned a black bag later found to contain an English-made Beretta pistol, a locally fabricated pistol, and four rounds of 9mm ammunition,” the police said.
Other recovered items include an HP laptop, an iPhone S, a Tecno phone, a Samsung phone, a PS5 game console, two necklaces, and a laptop charger, all of which the police said matched descriptions of valuables stolen at gunpoint from victims along the Okpanam–Asaba corridor.
Investigators say the successful identification of the items strengthened evidence linking the suspects to a series of ongoing robbery cases.
In a separate dawn raid on Monday, operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) led by ASP Julius Robinson stormed hideouts in Sapele and Oghara following credible intelligence on the activities of a violent cult group.
Three suspects, Miracle Umukoro, Mudiaga Ukavwe, and Solomon Oghoro, alias Spartan, were arrested.
The police said the suspects confessed to being members of the Aye Confraternity.
Recovered from the syndicate were one pump-action gun, six live cartridges, a cutlass, and a Toyota Sienna with registration number LSR 621 JW, allegedly used for surveillance and logistics during criminal operations.
All suspects are currently in custody as investigations intensify to track down other members of the group.
Abaniwonda, while commending the teams for their “resilience, courage and tactical precision,” reaffirmed the command’s zero tolerance for kidnapping, armed robbery and cult-related crime.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the police via the command’s Control Room Number: 08036684974.
“The police will remain unrelenting in delivering a safe and secure Delta State,” the police boss assured.
