By Ejiro Nesisa
Delta State Police Command has assured Deltans and residents in the state of hitch-free Christmas and New year celebrations. The Command made this known in a press statement signed and made available by SP. Edafe Bright, Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Police Command, Asaba.
According to him, Delta State Police Commissioner, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda has given mandate to tactical commanders, DPOS, and officers of the Command to ensure that Delta is peaceful in the ember months. Part of the statement reads: “As we are approaching yuletide season, the Commissioner of Police has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police operations to constantly monitor and supervise officers and men of the Command to ensure that the Operations Order for ember months is duly complied with”.
On some of the achievements the Command has made so far in combing criminals and criminality in the State, the statement said, on the 18th this month, November, Operatives of CP – Special Assignment Team (CP – SAT ) with its base in Ughelli affected the arrest of a notorious gang member and syndicate namely Godstime Ajugba “m” 41years of Wellington Road Area Mosogar, Ethiope and recovered, two AK 47 rifles, one K2 rifle, two(2) Automatic Pump Action guns, one locally made cut-to-size gun, five (5) AK 47 rifle magazines, three (3) K2 rifle magazines, One Hundred and One (101) k2 rifle live ammunition, two (2) handcuffs and ten(10) live cartridges. It added that the suspects are Police custody while investigation is on going.
In a related development, on the 20th of this month, the surveillance team of Ekpan Division also arrested one Eto aged 31 years old with a black bag containing Fifty Seven live cartridges, upon which the surveillance team mobilized to their hide out following Eto’s confession at Coco Nut Village Along Warri/Sapele Road by Mercy City and arrested one Sunny surname unknown 25 years old, who was waiting to receive the consignment ‘ground nuts’. The suspects led operatives to their forest main hide out behind 3 Battalion Barracks Army Estate Effurun along Warri/Sapele Road being their main camp ‘Korodo’.
The statement said, as other gang members waiting inside the forest camp sighted Police vehicles, they engaged Police in a shoot-out during which, the arrested suspects who were leading the policemen to the hideout were fatally wounded by the gunshot of their gang members while others escaped. When a discreet search was conducted at the camp, one English Pump Action Gun, one locally made cut-to-size gun and eight live cartridges, six iPhones, some Smart phones and a Rolex Gold Wrist Watch were all recovered in a black bag. The two injured suspects during the cross fire were taken to the hospital where they died while receiving treatment. Manhunt.
In the same vein, on the 24th of this month, Operatives of CP Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT)arrested two suspects connected to series of kidnapping in Ughelli LGA which include the kidnap of one man (name withheld) and a ransom of five million Naira collected (#5,000,000).
According to the statement, the team stormed their hideout along Otokutu Road Iyede and the gang members upon sighting the operatives, opened fire on the team and gun duel led to two of the suspects to have gunshot injuries. In the process, one Bump action gun, one Beretta pistol, one cut-to-size gun and six live cartridges were recovered. The injured suspects were taken to the hospital where they died while receiving treatment.
Again, on the 13th of this month, Operatives of CP – Special Assignment Team ( CP – SAT ) also arrested kidnappers, armed robbers and cultist who confessed of patronizing drug cartels to boost themselves before engaging on their nefarious activities. They are one Chukwudi Ruben ‘m” 28 years, a native of Anaku Village in Ayamelu LGA Anambra State but resides at Shell Road Area Sapele Delta State, Justice Chire ‘m” 19 years a native of Obinngwa Community in Isugu Ator LGA Anambra State but a resident of Shell Road Area Sapele, Igwe Solomon ‘m” 27years a native of Oriuzor Community in Omuigboke LGA Eboyi State but a resident of Shell Road in Sapele Delta State, Peter Irikefe ‘m” 44 years a native of Kokori town but resident of Shell Road Area Sapele Delta State.
According to the statement, others are Emmanuel John ‘m” 32 years, a native of Mayo Belwa LGA of Adamawa State but resident behind Obile Area Sapele Delta State, Alex Peter ‘m” 29 years, a native of Demsa LGA Adamawa State but resident behind Obile School Sapele, Delta State and David Dominic ‘m” 30 years old of Demsa Community in Demsa LGA Adamawa State but a resident of back of Obule School Sapele Delta State.
According to the statement, drugs recovered from them include multiple bottles of codeine, multiple sachets of tramadol, weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, multiple sachets of phenol drug named Canadian Loud and other prohibited drugs. Also recovered was a Toyota Camry with reg. Number KJA 996 BH used in distribution of the said drugs by the major distributor, Mr Uzochukwu Obiora ‘m’ aka “Obi god” currently on the run.
Again, on 11th of this month, following the kidnap of two boys kidnapped on November 2024, operatives of Abraka Police Station alongside members of Nigeria hunters stormed Kokori-Samagidi bush in Ethiope East LGA in search of the kidnapped victims. According to the statement, in an attempt for the Police to arrest the kidnapers, they opened fire on the Police and in the process, one of them sustained gunshot injury but died on his way to hospital and the police recovered two AK-47 rifle. Manhunt for the fleeing suspect is ongoing.
In August 17th this year, based on a lady’s report that she was robbed by driver and two others who pretended to be passengers on her way at Efurrun roundabout, the DPO Ekpan Police swung to action based on intelligence investigation which led to the arrest of three suspects namely: Vincent Omonigho ‘m’ aged 22 years, Omoni Ebi ‘m’ aged 34 years , and Tive Paul ‘m’ aged 33 years in Abraka and Okuokoko in Okpe LGA.
According to the statement, investigation revealed that the suspects disguised as transporters, and in some cases, go to clubs and lure young girl promising them huge sum of money and eventually rob them in a lonely road. The statement said ,the suspects had earlier robbed one of their victims, transferred seven hundred and fifty thousand naira from her bank account, collected her IPhone 15 pro max and IPhone 13 pro max. Suspects are in custody and investigation is ongoing.