Matilda Omonaiye/
A sustained offensive against kidnappers, cultists, armed robbers and drug traffickers has yielded major results for the Delta State Police Command, with 85 suspects arrested, 18 kidnapped victims rescued and 32 firearms recovered in just two months.
The Commissioner of Police, Yemi Oyeniyi, disclosed the achievements today during the Command’s second quarter press briefing in Asaba, saying the successes were recorded between April 29 and June 29, 2026.
According to the police boss, the Command intensified intelligence-driven policing through strategic deployment of personnel, coordinated raids on criminal hideouts, enhanced stop-and-search operations and improved intelligence gathering, leading to significant breakthroughs against violent criminal networks across the state.
Among the major breakthroughs was the arrest of 45-year-old suspected kidnap kingpin, Shehu Malami, at Ogor Market in Ughelli on April 29. Following his arrest, detectives recovered an AK-47 rifle and 63 rounds of live ammunition from his hideout in Agbarha-Otor.
Police investigations linked the suspect to a notorious kidnapping syndicate responsible for abductions across Ughelli, Agbarho, Sapele, Warri and neighbouring communities.
NewsmakersNG learned that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang.
In another operation carried out in collaboration with local vigilantes, police arrested two suspected kidnappers, Iliyasu Hassan, 16, and Idris Abdulkarim, 32, after they reportedly emerged from a forest to buy food and medication following a failed kidnap attempt.
The suspects were later identified by victims of an earlier kidnapping incident as members of the gang that attempted to abduct them.
Operatives of the State Anti-Kidnapping Unit also stormed a suspected kidnappers’ hideout in Ubulu-Okiti forest, where they recovered another AK-47 rifle loaded with five rounds of live ammunition after the fleeing suspects engaged police in a gun battle.
In one of the Command’s most remarkable rescue operations, detectives of the Command Anti-Vice Squad rescued a three-year-old child allegedly abducted by a commercial motorcyclist entrusted with conveying the child to school.
The suspect, Kelvin Ogaga, was tracked through technical intelligence after demanding a ₦500,000 ransom from the child’s family. Police recovered ₦127,000 believed to be part of the ransom before rescuing the child unharmed and reuniting the victim with the family.
The briefing also highlighted major breakthroughs in homicide investigations.
Police confirmed the arrest of Adedamola Michael Oyewole, 31, over the alleged murder of 21-year-old Habibatu Aruwa, a final-year Law student of the University of Port Harcourt.
According to investigators, the suspect allegedly stabbed the deceased in the neck, stomach and thighs during an argument after she discovered he was already married to a woman living in the United States.
The Command also announced the successful prosecution of the driver accused of murdering Bishop Chinedu Okonkwo in Ibusa.
The suspect, who allegedly fled Delta after the killing, was arrested in Anambra State while attempting to sell the slain cleric’s Toyota Land Cruiser. Investigators further uncovered his alleged involvement in an earlier vehicle theft in Rivers State before he was charged to court for murder.
The anti-cult campaign also recorded major successes.
Operatives of the Command Anti-Cultism Unit arrested two suspected cultists in Ibusa and recovered a pump-action gun, five live cartridges, charms and illicit drugs.
In another operation, the Violent Crime Response Unit stormed a suspected Eiye cult initiation ground in Agbarho, arresting 25 suspected cultists after an exchange of gunfire. Two suspects sustained gunshot injuries, while police recovered a pump-action shotgun and a cut-to-size firearm.
Earlier, detectives raided the notorious “Best Lodge” criminal hideout in Oko Community, arresting 14 suspected armed robbers and cultists. Recovered exhibits included a locally made firearm, live cartridges, dangerous weapons, cannabis, mobile phones and cash.
The Command also dealt a major blow to illicit drug trafficking after operatives arrested two suspected drug dealers in Amukpe, Sapele.
Recovered exhibits included Tramadol, CSC Codeine, MDMA, Swinol, Vagadine, Red Boy, Zaza and other controlled substances allegedly meant for distribution.
Presenting the Command’s overall operational scorecard, Oyeniyi said police arrested four kidnapping suspects, five murder suspects, 76 suspected cultists and seven drug suspects during the review period.
He added that 46 cultism suspects and five drug suspects had already been charged to court, while investigations continued on the remaining suspects.
The Commissioner disclosed that the Command recovered 32 firearms, comprising three AK-47 rifles, four pump-action guns, two Beretta pistols, two locally made revolver pistols, three cut-to-size firearms, 17 locally made single-barrel guns and one locally made double-barrel pistol.
Police also recovered 197 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition and 219 live cartridges, alongside large quantities of narcotics and psychoactive substances, including Rohypnol, Codeine, MDMA, Indian hemp, Monkey Tail, Nitrous Oxide, Canadian Loud, Tianeptine (Zaza) and psychoactive chewing gum.
Oyeniyi assured residents that the Command would sustain its intelligence-led offensive against criminal elements, stressing that Delta State would remain increasingly hostile to criminals while urging members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to the police.
0
