Abuja, NIGERIA – The newly deployed Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Wale Abass psc, has vowed to go after criminal elements in the State as he launches statewide crackdown.
Addressing officers and men of the command, CP Abass said it was very pertinent for all officers to carry out their duties diligently, warning that only result-oriented officers will retain their offices.
He said that he has putting in place strategy for information gathering for the early identification of criminals and crime scenes, declaring that the Command must strike at the criminals so that they don’t dare lay their hands on the law-abiding residents of the state.
While commending the police for their efforts, he also admonished them not to relent as more is expected of them.
He assures Deltans and residents in the state of his resolute in the fight against crime and criminality while calling for cooperation from members of the public especially during stop and search, that though it may inconvenience road users, it is generally for the collective good of the people and the State.
He urged members of the public to help the police in monitoring their immediate environments and report any suspicious persons or movement.
In apparent adherence to the Commissioner’s marching order, officers and men in the command have moved into action, smoking out and smashing criminals from every nooks and crannies of the State.
Giving a breakdown of police tight-operations within the few days of the Commissioner’s assumption of office, Delta State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe said, on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 the DPO ‘A’ Division Warri, CSP T.Y Mahmud led the divisional anti-crime patrol team on visibility and confidence building patrol to curtail the activities of kidnappers and armed robbers in Warri and its environs. During the patrol, the team intercepted a tricycle along Eagle Roundabout by Ugunu Bridge, conveying three occupants and subjected them to a search and 30 rounds of 7.62 AK47 live ammunition were recovered from two of the passengers namely; Eddy Aboyowa (m) age 37years, and Akpani Isaiah (m) age 35years, both of Eyiejuku street off Deco Road, Warri.
He said the suspects have been taken into custody and investigation is ongoing.
According to the PPRO, in an earlier development, on 8th may 2023, the Command’s Decoy Squad received an intelligence report on a syndicate that supplies cartridges to kidnappers, armed robbers, and cultists.
The Commander Decoy Squad, ASP Julius Robinson embarked on a sting operation and arrested one Chinedu Enenmo ‘m’ 37yrs of Akere Ogidi, Ogbaru LGA Anambra State at a criminal hideout in Asaba. Two hundred and fifty (250) rounds of live cartridges were recovered from the suspect.
During the course of investigation, the suspect gave useful information and his accomplice one Donatus Ndukan ‘m’ 34yrs of Urom community in Awka-North LGA of Anambra State was arrested at Fegge Onitsha in Anambra State.
Both suspects are in custody, and investigation is ongoing
Again, Wednesday, May 10, 2023 during a crackdown operation, the police foiled an attempt by kidnappers to carry out a kidnap operation in the State and recovered one pump action gun loaded with two live cartridges, forty-nine rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition from the suspects.
The PPRO stated that while patrol team drafted from ‘B’ Division Ughelli was on anti-crime patrol along Agbarha-Ughelli Road, they were overtaken in a suspicious manner by a Qlink motorcycle with Reg. no. SKL 554 VD with three male occupants. They were given a hot chase, during which the three men hurriedly abandoned the motorcycle and fled into the bush, leaving behind their motorcycle and a bag. When the bag was searched, one pump action gun loaded with two live cartridges, forty-nine rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were recovered along with the motorcycle.
On Thursday May 11, 2023, operatives of Eagle-Net Special Squad intercepted a commercial mini bus along Oreorokpe-Sapele Road while routine search and recovered a locally made single barrel gun with five live cartridges concealed in a bag found in possession of one Diarhe Oghenemarho ‘m’ aged 25yrs of Okpara Inland Waterway Community, Ethiope East LGA. The suspect was arrested and taken to the police station. During preliminary investigation, the suspect confessed that he belongs to the notorious Eiye confraternity cult group and that his syndicate has been terrorizing Warri and Ughelli axis. He also confessed to be a member of an armed robbery/kidnapping gang, and his gang leader is one David Oghotomo Mathew a.k.a “cucumber”.
By Chidi-Peters Okorie/Time Africa