The Delta State Police Command has recorded a major breakthrough in its sustained offensive against criminal networks, arresting suspected cultists, kidnappers and armed robbery suspects while recovering weapons and illicit drugs in coordinated operations across the state.
The intelligence led operations, executed by specialised tactical units, underscore a renewed push to dismantle organised crime rings and reinforce public safety in key flashpoints, particularly within the Agbor axis and along the Benin Asaba corridor.
Police spokesman, Bright Edafe, disclosed in a statement that the operations were driven by credible intelligence, leading to the arrest of key suspects and the recovery of dangerous exhibits believed to have been used in criminal activities.
In one of the raids conducted on April 4, operatives of the Raiders Unit stormed a suspected criminal hideout in Ika South Local Government Area, Agbor, resulting in the arrest of a 34 year old suspect identified as Henry Obi.
The suspect, said to be a native of Anambra State, reportedly confessed to being a member of the notorious Aiye confraternity, raising fresh concerns over the persistent threat of cult related violence in parts of Delta State.
A meticulous search of the premises led to the recovery of an English made pistol loaded with six rounds of live ammunition, alongside suspected illicit drugs cleverly concealed within a standing air conditioner in the living room, in what police described as a calculated attempt to evade detection.
In a related operation on April 5, operatives of the Buffalo Team, working in synergy with the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, carried out a coordinated raid at the Hausa Market near the Customs checkpoint along the Benin Asaba Expressway.
The operation resulted in the arrest of four suspects, including teenagers, highlighting the growing involvement of young persons in illicit drug trade and related criminal activities within the region.
Recovered items from the second raid include large quantities of suspected hard drugs such as Colorado, Canadian Loud, Indian hemp, Tramadol and Swinol, alongside two locally fabricated battle axes and cash amounting to one hundred and forty four thousand naira.
Reacting to the successes, the Commissioner of Police, Yemi Oyeniyi, commended the operatives for their swift and coordinated actions, assuring that the Command will sustain the momentum in its crackdown on criminal elements.
He called on residents to remain vigilant and support law enforcement agencies with timely and credible information, reaffirming the Command’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property across Delta State.