The Delta State Police Command has announced a significant victory against organized crime, dismantling a dangerous inter-state syndicate involved in kidnapping and armed robbery. In a series of intelligence-led operations, authorities arrested key suspects and recovered a substantial cache of high-grade firearms across Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers states.
Major Breakthrough in Niger Delta Security Operation
Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aina Adesola, revealed the details during a press briefing in Asaba on Wednesday. He credited the success to the relentless work of the CP Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), which acted on credible intelligence about the syndicate terrorizing communities in the Niger Delta region.
The operation gained critical momentum on December 29, 2025, when detectives extended their investigation to Port Harcourt, Rivers State. There, they apprehended one Abubakar Mohammed. Following interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed and led operatives to a concealed bush location along Tobia Village, near the Amasoma area of Airport Road in Bayelsa State.
At that site, police uncovered a buried cache of weapons, carefully wrapped in a sack. The recovery included one AK-47 rifle, 76 rounds of live ammunition, and two AK-47 magazines.
Further Weapons Recovered from Forest Hideout
The investigation continued, leading to a second major discovery. On January 2, 2026, at about 6:01 p.m., the suspect guided police to another hidden arms dump located within the Uyamuge Forest along the Ughelli–Warri axis in Delta State.
A thorough search of this location yielded an even more diverse arsenal. Recovered items included:
- One K2 rifle
- 49 rounds of live ammunition
- Three K2 magazines
- One pump-action gun
- 32 live cartridges
The suspect remains in custody and is cooperating with authorities to provide information aimed at completely dismantling the criminal network.
Sting Operation Foils Illegal Arms Deal in Ughelli
In a related development, CP-SAT operatives successfully thwarted an illegal arms transaction in Ughelli town. Acting on a tip-off, police conducted a sting operation on January 3, 2026, at about 7:15 p.m. on Ovieta Street, Ughelli.
The operation led to the arrest of three suspects:
- Areuro Oke, 38 – the intended buyer of a pump-action gun.
- Onos Echabor, 47 – identified as the middleman.
- Akpofure Emmanuel, 45.
All three are residents of Ughelli North and Ughelli South Local Government Areas. Police recovered one pump-action gun and the sum of ₦280,000, believed to be part payment for the illegal transaction.
Commissioner Adesola issued a stern warning to criminals operating within and beyond Delta State, urging them to abandon crime or face the full wrath of the law. He emphasized the Command's commitment to aggressive, intelligence-led policing in collaboration with other security agencies.
He also called on the public to continue their vital support by providing timely and credible information to the police, stating that community cooperation is essential to winning the war against kidnapping, armed robbery, and other violent crimes in Nigeria.
