Delta Police Clamp Down On Crime, Nab 627 Suspects And Recover 144 Firearms

According to Ireporter Online, the Delta State Police Command has recorded significant achievements in crime prevention and public safety following extensive operations conducted across the state from January 2025 to mid-December 2025. The update was disclosed during a press briefing held in Asaba on December 15, 2025, where the Commissioner of Police, Abaniwonda S. Olufemi, presented an overview of the command’s security activities and outcomes within the period under review.

The police leadership explained that the successes were driven by intelligence-led and community-oriented policing strategies, implemented in collaboration with sister security agencies, vigilante groups, anti-cult volunteers, traditional institutions, and civil society stakeholders to curb criminal activities and safeguard residents.

Among the notable cases highlighted was the killing of retired Justice Ifeoma Okogwu at her residence on November 24, 2025. Operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department arrested a 25-year-old security guard attached to the home on December 6, 2025, after a mobile phone belonging to the deceased was found in his possession. Further investigations resulted in the arrest of another suspect, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend a third individual still at large. One of the stolen phones was later recovered from Ogbogonogo Market in Asaba.

In a separate operation on December 1, 2025, officers of the State Anti-Cult Unit, supported by community volunteers, stormed a forest in Obiaruku following credible intelligence on kidnapping activities. During the operation, one suspect was neutralised while others escaped into the forest. An AK-47 rifle, forty-two rounds of ammunition, mobile phones, and charms were recovered at the scene.

Another breakthrough was recorded on December 6, 2025, when operatives attached to the Commissioner’s Special Assignment Team conducted a search in Abraka. A 67-year-old suspect was arrested at his residence in the Umeghe community, where two pump-action guns and thirty-nine live cartridges were recovered. The suspect remains in custody as investigations continue into possible criminal affiliations.

Coordinated operations carried out between November 28 and 29, 2025, in Ughelli, Oghara, and Sapele also led to the arrest of three suspects linked to armed robbery and cult-related activities. Items recovered included two stolen tricycles, a locally made shotgun, a fabricated pistol, and ammunition.

The command further intensified its crackdown on drug-related crimes. On December 10, 2025, officers led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations raided a known drug hub in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, resulting in the arrest of 161 suspects, including men and women, and the seizure of various illicit substances. Three days later, police intercepted a commercial bus along the Asaba–Onitsha axis, where large quantities of codeine and tramadol were discovered, leading to additional arrests.

Over the course of the year, the Delta State Police Command recovered a total of 144 firearms, comprising assault rifles, pistols, locally fabricated guns, and pump-action weapons. The police also seized 6,930 rounds of ammunition and recovered thirty-six million naira believed to be ransom proceeds.

In all, 627 suspects were arrested for offences ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping, murder, and cultism to rape and defilement. Eighteen abducted victims were rescued, while twenty-eight stolen vehicles were recovered.

The Commissioner of Police commended officers of the command for their dedication and professionalism, while also appreciating the support of the media, traditional rulers, community leaders, and residents of Delta State. As the festive season approaches, members of the public were advised to remain vigilant, comply with the law, and share credible information with security agencies, as the command reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a peaceful Christmas and New Year celebrations across the state.