The Delta State Police Command has announced the arrest of 16 suspects across four separate operations conducted between September 8 and 10, 2026, resulting in the recovery of a pump-action gun, a locally made pistol, a stolen Toyota Camry, and various illicit substances.
Acting on intelligence about a planned cult gathering, operatives from the Command Anti-Cult Unit in Ozoro raided a location in Aragba-Orogun, arresting eight suspects: Godspower Achubue (27), Ziden Edem (27), Kingsley Aniefem (36), Omita John (22), Onumu Happy (22), Kenneth Ukpurakpo (22), Juliet Festus (26), and Oghenegueke Okuanah (22).
A follow-up search of one suspect’s residence, carried out under a warrant, led to the recovery of a pump-action gun and a live cartridge. Police say investigations are continuing.
In Okpanam, police responded on September 8 to reports that a gang had stormed a construction site, seized workers’ tools, and demanded ₦700,000 before allowing work to resume. Officers arrived quickly and arrested one suspect, Collins Dunkun (30), though six others managed to flee. A search of Dunkun turned up a locally made single-barrel pistol and a cartridge. Police say efforts to track down the remaining suspects are ongoing.
Also on September 8, the Divisional Surveillance Team raided an incomplete building at King Zanga in the Ugbuegwai community of Warri, acting on intelligence about suspected drug activity.
Five suspects were arrested: Rabi’u Salihu (26), Salisu Suleiman (23), Rabilu Ali (24), Alhassan Mohd Mansur (28), and Aliyu Abubakar (25). Officers recovered quantities of substances suspected to include Indian hemp, Codeine, Colorado, Rizla, SK and Canadian Loud. All five remain in custody as investigations continue.
In a fourth operation, the Ekpan Division tracked down a brown Toyota Camry (registration BEN-572BT) that had been reported stolen in Benin City on September 7. Using an intelligence-led investigation, officers traced the vehicle to the New Era area of Jakpa Road, Ekpan, where they laid an ambush. Two suspects, Destiny Suleman (41) and Samuel Ejiro (21), were arrested and the vehicle recovered. Both remain in custody pending further investigation.
Commenting on the operations, the Commissioner of Police for Delta State, CP Samuel E. Erale, said cultism, illegal possession of firearms, extortion, and drug-related crimes “will not be tolerated in the State.” He added that the command “will continue to take proactive measures to prevent crime, dismantle criminal networks and bring offenders to justice.”
