By Odita Sunday
The Delta State Police Command has arrested 16 suspects in separate operations across the state, recovering a pump-action gun, a locally made pistol, a stolen Toyota Camry and quantities of substances suspected to be illicit drugs.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, saying the arrests followed intelligence-led operations by operatives attached to various formations of the command.
Edafe said operatives of the Command Anti-Cult Unit, Ozoro, acting on credible intelligence about a proposed cult gathering at Aragba-Orogun, raided the location and arrested eight suspects.
The suspects were identified as Godspower Achubue, 27; Ziden Edem, 27; Kingsley Aniefem, 36; Omita John, 22; Onumu Happy, 22; Kenneth Ukpurakpo, 22; Juliet Festus, 26; and Oghenegueke Okuanah, 22.
According to him, preliminary investigation led detectives to the residence of one of the suspects, where a search warrant was executed.
He said the search resulted in the recovery of a pump-action gun and one live cartridge, adding that investigation into the case was ongoing.
Edafe also said operatives of the Okpanam Division on September 8 responded to a report of an alleged extortion attempt at a construction site.
He said a group of persons allegedly invaded the site, stopped workers, seized their working tools and demanded N700,000 before allowing construction work to continue.
The police spokesman said operatives mobilised to the scene and arrested one of the suspects, identified as Collins Dunkun, 30, while six others fled.
He added that a search of the arrested suspect led to the recovery of a locally made single-barrel pistol and one cartridge, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
In another operation on the same day, operatives of the Divisional Surveillance Team raided an uncompleted building at King Zanga, Ugbuegwai Community, Warri, following intelligence about suspected illicit drug activities at the location.
Five suspects, Rabi’u Salihu, 26; Salisu Suleiman, 23; Rabilu Ali, 24; Alhassan Mohd Mansur, 28; and Aliyu Abubakar, 25, were arrested.
Edafe said quantities of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, Codeine, Colorado, Rizla, SK and Canadian Loud were recovered during the operation.
He said the suspects remained in custody as investigation continued.
The police spokesman further disclosed that operatives of the Ekpan Division recovered a Toyota Camry allegedly stolen in Benin City and arrested two suspects in connection with the incident.
According to him, the command received a report on September 8 concerning a brown Toyota Camry Pencil Light, with registration number BEN-572BT, which was allegedly stolen in Benin City on September 7.
He said intelligence-led investigation enabled the operatives to trace the vehicle to the New Era area of Jakpa Road, Ekpan.
Edafe said the operatives laid an ambush after sighting the vehicle, leading to the arrest of Destiny Suleman, 41, and Samuel Ejiro, 21, as well as the recovery of the stolen car.
He said the suspects were in custody while investigation into the matter continued.
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel E. Erale, warned that cultism, unlawful possession of firearms, extortion, illicit drug activities and other forms of criminality would not be tolerated in the state.
Erale assured residents that the command would continue to deploy proactive policing measures to prevent crime, dismantle criminal networks and ensure that offenders were brought to justice.
About the Author
