The Delta State Police Command has arrested four suspected criminals, including two alleged armed robbers and two suspected kidnappers, while recovering a locally made firearm during separate operations across the state.
According to a statement released on Thursday by the Delta State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Edafe Bright, the operations are part of a sustained crackdown on criminal elements under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Yemi Oyeniyi.
The first breakthrough occurred on June 23, 2026, at approximately 3:00 PM, following a report regarding an attempted robbery.
Preliminary investigations indicated that a suspect unlawfully entered a residential compound but fled after realising the occupants were aware of his presence.
“The swift response and vigilance of community members led to the apprehension of the suspect and an accomplice, who were subsequently handed over to the Police,” SP Edafe Bright stated.
Following up on intelligence gathered during the initial interrogation, operatives from the Ugborikoko Division searched the suspects’ residence.
“The search resulted in the recovery of one locally made pistol concealed inside a wardrobe,” Bright added, noting that the suspects remain in custody while investigations continue to determine their involvement in other criminal activities.
In a separate development, operatives of the ‘A’ Division Ughelli, working in tandem with members of a local vigilante group, apprehended two suspected kidnappers linked to a failed abduction attempt that occurred on June 19, 2026.
The suspects, identified as 16-year-old Iliyasu Hassan and 32-year-old Idris Abdulkarim, were arrested on June 22, 2026, at about 8:30 PM.
“The suspects were arrested after emerging from a nearby forest to purchase food and medication,” Bright disclosed. “Following their arrest, a victim of an earlier kidnapping incident positively identified the suspects as among his attackers.”
The police command confirmed that both suspects are still in custody as investigations expand. Security forces are currently tracking other fleeing members of the criminal gang and working to recover the weapons used during their operations.
Reacting to the successful operations, Commissioner of Police CP Yemi Oyeniyi commended the public for their vigilance and praised the ongoing collaboration between community stakeholders and security agencies.
He urged residents to maintain the momentum by providing timely and credible information to the police, reaffirming the command’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property throughout Delta State.
