By Cynthia Eruotor
Delta State Police Command has arrested three suspected armed robbers/kidnappers/cultists and recovered arms and ammunition from them.
In a press statement signed by Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Edafe Bright said, on the 9th May, 2024, at about 0430 hours, the Special Team deployed to Ughelli by the Commissioner of Police Delta State, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi led by ASP Julius Robinson,said with intelligent reports, stormed Oghara Town and arrested a 28- year- old suspect, a member of Eiye Confraternity, Oghara,resident in Delta State.
According to the statement, the suspect led the operatives to a hotel in koko Junction, Oghara where they arrested another suspect, aged 46 years. He is a member of Eiye Confraternity and one automatic pump action gun was found in his possession. The statement further said the two suspects led the operatives to arrest another 32- year- old suspect in Sapele, Delta State where one new AK-47 rifle and an empty magazine were recovered.
It was discovered, from investigation,that the suspects are part of a series of kidnappings in Ughelli, Warri, Sapele, and its environs. The suspects are in Police’ custody while investigation is ongoing.
The statement reads in parts: “On 9/5/2024 at about 0430hrs, the special team deployed to Ughelli by the commissioner of Police Delta State, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi led by ASP Julius Robinson acting on technically generated intelligence stormed Oghara town and arrested a 28yrs suspect who is a member of Eiye confraternity resident in Oghara Delta State. The suspect led the operatives to a hotel in koko Junction Oghara where another suspect aged 46yrs and a member of Eiye confraternity was arrested and an automatic Pump Action gun was recovered from him. Consequently, upon further interrogation of the two suspects, they led the operatives to the arrest of another 32 yrs old suspect in Sapele Delta State where one new AK-47 rifle with and an empty magazine were recovered. Preliminary investigation revealed that suspects are linked to a series of kidnappings in Ughelli, Warri, Sapele, and the environs. The suspects are in custody and investigation is ongoing”.
In a related development ,on 9th May, 2024 at about 2205 hours,,the Police Operatives, based on credible intelligent,have been following up one notorious cultist/gun runner known as Okobe Ability ‘m’. The statement said, in attempt to arrest him in Oleh Town in Isoko North Local Government Area, Delta State, the suspect took to his heels on sighting the Police. He however dropped his black polythene bag. When the Police searched it, one baretta pistol, and five(5) live ammunition were recovered. Efforts are on to arrest other members of the gang.
In the same vein, on the 8th May, 2024,at about 1630hrs, as Dragon Tactical Patrol Teams were conducting a stop and search along Ogwashi-Uku/Kwale Road, they intercepted a red commercial Toyota Sienna space van carrying passengers from Asaba to Warri. When the Police searched the vehicle and its occupants, one Favour Eze, a 24- year- old man who is a native of Amasiri Village in Afikpo Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, was arrested in possession of one locally made pistol, hard drug suspected to be loud, and human’s hair- all concealed in a bag of cloths. He was arrested in possession of the exhibits. The suspect is in Police’ custody while investigation is ongoing.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi commended the officers and men of the Command for their continuous efforts and determination to fight crime and criminality in the state just as he warned them to always respect the rights of the citizens and in accordance with the law in the discharge their duties. He also advised members of the public to cooperate with the Police, especially during stop and search in this regard.