Abuja, NIGERIA – Barely three weeks into office, the Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Wale Abass, launched unprecedented operations to curb State of criminals element and miscreants. The crackdown operations across the State have intensified, resulting to several arrests of criminals behind nefarious activities.
In the past few days, the command arrest suspected kidnappers, cultists, recovers one locally fabricated baretta pistol, one revolver pistol, two double barrel guns, two pump action guns, sixteen (16) rounds of live cartridges, and two suspected stolen vehicles.
The Commissioner of Police assured residents that the command will be working round the clock to ensure that anyone terrorizing the state will be arrested and brought to justice.
According to the Commissioner while briefing newsmen, “We reassure the public that the issue of crime is being addressed and the police have increased its operations against criminals as well as all acts of lawlessness.”
He cautioned those involved in lawlessness to refrain and rather engage in legal businesses instead of languishing in prison or loss their lives for something avoidable.
Furthering, he also warned thieves loitering in darkness stealing from cars, snatching phones and other valuables from people, breaking into houses, to desist forthwith because the full arm of the police will catch-up with them and swore to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.
CP Abass reiterated the Command’s commitment to an effective, intelligence driven, and community based policing to ensure that Deltans sleep with two eyes closed.
Giving breakdown of most recent crackdown operation in the State, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, said:
“Sequel to the kidnap of Mr and Mrs Okutonye Efetobore on 27/04/2023 in Ughellli town, the Commissioner of Police Delta State, CP Wale Abass psc directed the Command Decoy Squad to embark on intelligence and discrete investigation to bring the kidnappers to book. In compliance with the CP’s directive, on 11/05/2023, the Squad led by the commander, ASP Julius Robinson acting on credible intelligence, launched sting operation and arrested one Emmanuel James ‘m’ aged 32yrs of Otor-Udu, Ughelli South LGA, who is suspected to be the leader of the gang.
“On 12/05/2023, the suspect led the operatives to Ejewu community, Udu LGA and arrested the syndicate driver, one Ejiro Peter ‘m’ aged 25yrs, a native of Kokori community in Ethiope East LGA. They confessed to their involvements in series of armed robbery, kidnapping operations in Ughelli and Warri which includes the kidnap of Mr and Mrs Okutonye Efetobore and collection of one million naira ransom.
“On 12/05/2023, the suspects led the operatives to another notorious member of their criminal gang whose real name is unknown but fondly called “oh lord” at Egbike area in Udu. The suspect, upon sighting the police, engaged them in a gun duel and escaped through the ceiling of his apartment with bullet injuries. When his apartment was searched, a bag containing a locally fabricated pistol and three rounds of 7.62 AK47 live ammunition were recovered. Manhunt for the fleeing suspect is ongoing.
“On 05/05/2023, the operatives of the Command State Anti Cult Unit (SACU), while on a joint operation with Dragon Patrol, Safer Highway, Raiders Squad, RRS at Afisere /Ughelli, they arrested the duo of Tega Precious’ m’ aged 28 yrs and Ebi Marvelloveous ‘m’ aged 27 yrs, one revolver pistol two live ammunition were recovered from them. Suspects confessed to be members of Neo Black Movement (NBM) cult group.
“The suspects led the operatives to their hideout, where two pump action guns, two double barrel guns, one single barrel gun, and sixteen live cartridges, were recovered. Manhunt for the other members of the gang is ongoing.
Similarly, on 11/5/2023, operatives of Dragon 19 and 20, while on stop and search duty along Ughelli-Patani Expressway, flagged down a Toyota Camry with Reg. No. ABC 810 DK, the suspect jumped out from the vehicle and escaped into the bush. The vehicle was recovered, and investigations so far revealed that it was snatched at gun point on 10/5/2023 in Sapele. Manhunt for the suspects is ongoing.
“The Command recorded another success on 12/5/2023 in Agbarho when operatives of Agbarho Police Station on stop and search flagged down a red coloured GLK 350 Mercedes Benz with Vehicle Number Plate WWR 441 MD, the suspects hastily alighted from vehicle and fled into the bush. On searching the vehicle, a phone number which turned out to be the phone number of owner of the vehicle was seen, and when contacted, he confirmed that the car was stolen from him at gun point on 11/5/2023.”
