Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested a suspected gun runner, armed robbers and cultists in various parts of the state.
Spokesperson of the command, DSP Bright Edafe, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, May 23, said operatives also recovered one fabricated beretta pistol, one pump action gun, four locally made cut-to-size guns and thirteen live cartridges from the suspects.
According to the PPRO, a police patrol team arrested two members of a criminal syndicate terrorizing Usieffurun community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state.
“In the early hours of 22/05/2023, at about 0300hrs, the DPO Oghara Division, SP Suleiman Yahaya Doma acting on intelligence received led a combined team of policemen from the division and the State Investigation Bureau (SIB) to a criminal hideout in Otefe community Oghara, Ethiope West LGA,” the statement read.
“During the operation, one Edafe Ajari ‘m’ 29yrs, Wallis Louis ‘m’ 24yrs both of Otefe Community Oghara were arrested and one (1) pump action gun, two (2) double barrel cut-to-size, one (1) battle axe and three (3) live cartridges were recovered. Investigation is ongoing.
“In another development, on 22/05/2023 at about 1313hrs, the DPO Orerokpe division SP Paul Obaware received information from a member of Okwukoko Anti-cult Unit that one Bibi Asengbe ‘m’ 38yrs, a notorious cultist and a gun-runner who has been on the command’s wanted list was sighted on a motorcycle around Okwukoko Community,”
The Patrol team from Orerokpe was swiftly mobilized by the DPO alongside members of the local anti-cult, embarked on a technical intelligence led operation and trailed the suspect to his hideout at Okwukoko where he was rounded up and arrested.
“When the search was conducted on him, a locally made English berretta pistol was recovered from him. Investigation revealed that the suspect was on his way to supply the arm to one of his customers named Marvin (surname unknown) at Jakpa junction Warri at a cost of two hundred and fifty thousand naira (#250,000). Investigation is ongoing while manhunt for the said Marvin and other accomplices is ongoing.
“In Ughelli south LGA, on 20/05/2023 at about 0135hrs, acting on a tip off, the DPO Otu-Jeremi Division, CSP Pius Eredie working on information gathered on a syndicate who terrorizes Usiefrun community, led patrol teams to the said community where the duo of Bright Akpomuje ‘m’ age 24yrs, and Michael Ogheneruese ‘m’ age 24yrs, and one locally made cut-to-size pistol, seven rounds of live cartridges were recovered. Suspects are in custody while investigation is ongoing.
“In Isoko North LGA, on the 18/05/2023 at about 0930hrs, acting on a tip-off that some secret cult members were holding a meeting at their hideout in Owhelogbo Community Isoko North LGA, police operatives attached to Otor-Owhe division, stormed their hideout, and cordoned the area.
“The suspected cultists on noticing the presence of the policemen, took to their heels but were given a heated chase. During the chase, one Precious Moses ‘m’ 30yrs of Owhelogbo was arrested and a locally made cut-to-size single barrel gun, and three (3) live cartridges were recovered from him.
“Investigation revealed that the suspect is a member of Viking Confraternity and part of the syndicate terrorizing the said community. Manhunt for the other fleeing members of the gang is ongoing.”
