Delta Police arrest 95 suspected criminals, recover firearms, ammunitions

In its sustained fight against crimes and criminality across the state, Delta State Police Command says she has arrested 95 criminal suspects, recovered 16 firearms and 94 rounds of live ammunitions and catridges from September till date.

The command also seized a truck loaded with illicit drugs within the period.

The criminal suspects arrested are those for various offences including armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and drug peddling.

Olufemi Abaniwonda, the state commissioner of Police, who made the disclosure during a media briefing in Asaba, Wednesday, said those were the significant operational successes recorded by the command from September till date.

He explained that the Command had intensified security operations with strategic deployments to protect worship centres following reports of burglary incidents in churches, especially in Sapele and other urban areas.

Read also: Mob invade Edo police station over fatal crash involving ‘yahoo boy’

“These measures have yielded results with several suspects apprehended and stolen church equipment worth millions of naira recovered,” he said.

“Two suspected kidnappers were neutralized and a cache of arms recovered during a joint operation by the Command and Operation Delta Sweep at Boji Boji Owa.

“Another gang of kidnappers operating in Ogwashi-Uku was smashed, leading to the rescue of a victim, recovery of his Toyota Venza SUV, and the arrest of three suspects.

“A network jammer and a Toyota Matrix used for their operations were also recovered.

“In Ughelli North LGA, operatives of the CP Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) engaged suspected kidnappers in a fierce gun duel during which two suspects died from injuries sustained.

“The team recovered one AK-47 rifle, two magazines, 43 rounds of ammunition, one pump-action gun, and a locally made pistol.

“Eagle-Net Special Squad intercepted a truck loaded with large quantities of illicit drugs along the Asaba–Benin Road. The suspect, a 52-year-old male from Kogi State, was arrested as investigation continues.

“In Ogwashi-Uku, two suspects were arrested for vandalising churches and carting away musical equipment. Recovered items included a pump-action gun, locally made revolver, and other weapons used for their operations.

“Jesse Town, Asaba and its environs and Agbor among others were the places the command recorded huge achievements,” the CP explained.

He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to ensuring peace and safety across the state through intelligence-driven policing, community collaboration, and inter-agency synergy, urging residents to go about their daily activities without fear.

The CP also urged members of the public to report any suspicious persons or movements to the nearest police station or contact the Command’s control room via 08036684974.