The Delta State Police Command has arrested members of a suspected armed robbery syndicate allegedly linked to a string of church, solar shop, and electronics store robberies in Warri and surrounding communities, recovering stolen equipment and other valuables.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Bright Edafe, the arrests followed investigations into an armed robbery incident in Okuokoko Community, where four armed men reportedly stormed a solar shop in a gold-coloured Toyota Sienna with registration number EFR-118 XB.
The police said the suspects allegedly held a sales representative at gunpoint, tied her with a rope, and carted away solar batteries, inverters, mobile phones, and other equipment valued at about N15 million.
Edafe said operatives of Orerokpe Division launched an intelligence-led operation after receiving several complaints from churches and business owners over similar robberies within Warri and Osubi.
“The breakthrough came on April 26, 2026, at about 0900hrs when the sales representative identified two of the suspects in Osubi,” the statement said.
He disclosed that the Divisional Police Officer of Orerokpe Division immediately mobilised operatives to the scene, leading to the arrest of 28-year-old Ajeh Zephaniah and 32-year-old Anthony Okoro, both residents of Osubi.
According to the police, the suspects confessed during interrogation and identified two other alleged gang members known simply as Elvis and Ochuko, who are currently at large.
The suspects also allegedly identified receivers of the stolen goods, leading to the arrest of Arinze Ezisi of Okumagba Avenue, Warri, and Chinonso Valentine of Eboh Road, Warri.
Police further recovered the gold-coloured Toyota Sienna allegedly used for the operations.
Searches carried out on the suspects’ residences and shops, based on duly executed search warrants, reportedly led to the recovery of solar batteries, inverters, charge controllers, solar panels, televisions, electrical wires, cameras, church musical equipment, and other suspected stolen items.
Investigators also linked the syndicate to several church robberies in Warri and Osubi, where musical and solar equipment valued at about N80 million were allegedly stolen.
The Commissioner of Police, Yemi Oyeniyi, commended the operatives for the arrests and assured residents that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and recover firearms allegedly used by the gang.
