Metro

Police Raid Criminal Hideouts In Delta, Arrest Suspects, Seize Weapons

Published

11 months ago

July 1, 2025

Assorted guns and sophisticated mobile phones were recovered when operatives of the CP Special Assignment Team of the Delta State Police Command staged a crackdown on suspected kidnappers and one-chance syndicate in some parts of the state.

According to The PUNCH, the operation followed a directive of the state Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, that a case of kidnapping reported at the Isiokolo Police station where one suspect was initially arrested be transferred to operatives of the team alongside one suspect named Augustine Ojanuware.

The Police Public Relations Officer for the Delta State Command, Bright Edafe, said in a signed statement made available to journalists in Warri on Monday that “the operatives of the CP-SAT, upon further investigation, said the suspect confessed that he is a member of a kidnapping and armed robbery syndicate terrorising Ughelli, Warri, Agbarho, Sapele and their environs.”

According to the PPRO, “On June 28, 2025, the suspect led operatives to the Osubi area of Warri and Ughelli town, where two additional suspects, viz Precious Urhobowin ‘m’ 27 years of Ewu community in Ughelli North LGA of Delta State and one Julius Okpako, ‘m’, 32 years, a native of Oviri-Ogor community in Ughelli North LGA of Delta State, who is a member and owner of a POS machine used in collecting ransom, were arrested respectively and another locally made gun with eight rounds of live cartridges was recovered from them.”

The police spokesman disclosed that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects were responsible for the kidnap of a pharmacist on June 19, 2025, in her residence in Ughelli and released after five days upon payment of an undisclosed sum of money and whose Lexus jeep they abandoned along Isiokolo area and also the attempted kidnap of another male victim whose Toyota Corolla they robbed upon the failed attempt at Iyede community on June 28, 2025.

Meanwhile, the suspects are in custody, just as investigations are ongoing in the matter.

The PPRO explained that the operatives arrested some suspected robbers popularly known as “one chance“ and recovered their operational tricycle and 16 sophisticated mobile phones from the gangsters.

The arrest, the police spokesman said, was a sequel to a series of complaints received from members of the public in Ughelli related to a syndicate that specialises in robbing unsuspecting passengers who board commercial tricycles.

The statement partly reads, “Acting on credible intelligence, on June 28, 2025 and June 29, 2025, operatives of CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) led by ASP Julius Robinson stormed Agbarho town and effected the arrest of Lucky Oghenerobor ‘m’ 37yrs, a native of Olomoro community in Isoko South LGA of Delta State, resident in Agbarho town, who is the leader and owner of their operational tricycle.

“Other suspects were also arrested within Ughelli town namely Olamide Fagbaibe ‘m’ 24yrs, a native of Akure in Ondo State and Umeh Akpan ‘m’ 37yrs a native of Eket in Akwa-Ibom State, both resident in Ughelli town.

“Suspects confessed that they usually operate in Ughelli, Warri, Sapele, and environs. Recovered from them are 16 different kinds of suspected stolen phones”.

In the meantime, the State Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, has reiterated that “the command remains committed to the fight against crime and criminality”.

The CP called on residents and the people of the state to “always volunteer information that will aid the Police in crime fighting”.

The police boss released the command’s dedicated control room phone numbers which are 08036684974; 08114895600 and 08025666914.

Metro

Edo Police Arrest Two Suspected Cultists

Published

13 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Editor

The Edo State Police Command on Wednesday said two suspected cultists were arrested in Ohonre community, off Adolor College Road, Benin.

This was disclosed in a statement by the command Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, and made available to newsmen electrically.

Ikoedem said the arrest was possible due to operatives response to a distress report concerning the movement and gathering of some suspected cult members within the community.

The statement reads: “The Edo State Police Command has recorded another operational breakthrough following the swift disruption of a suspected cultists’ gathering in Ohonre Community, off Adolor College Road, Benin City.

“On 21st May, 2026, at about 19:00hrs, operatives attached to Ugbowo Division who were on surveillance patrol responded to a distress report concerning the movement and gathering of some suspected cult members within the community.

“Acting promptly on the information, the police team mobilized to the location. On sighting the operatives, the suspects fled in an attempt to evade arrest. The operatives immediately gave them a hot chase, leading to the arrest of two suspects identified as Victor Peter ‘M’, 21 years and Iyemoma Ogbewe ‘M’, 35 years.

“A search conducted on the suspects led to the recovery of one cut-to-size gun believed to have been in their possession for unlawful purposes.

“Upon investigation, the suspects confessed to being members of the notorious Maphite cult group. Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other fleeing gang members.”

She said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, commended the swift response of the operatives and reiterated the Command’s resolve to deny criminal elements any opportunity within Edo State.

He further urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to the Police, assuring that all reports would receive prompt attention.

Metro

Troops Eliminate Two Terrorists, Foil Pipeline Attack

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

The Nigerian Army says troops have, in the last 24 hours, eliminated two terrorists, rescued four kidnapped victims and foiled pipeline attacks in a series of coordinated military operations across Taraba, Kogi and Rivers.

This is contained in operational updates issued to reporters on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the reports, troops of 93 Battalion deployed at Akate in the Donga Local Government Area of Taraba engaged suspected terrorists in a forested area, killing two of them.

According to the report, items recovered from the scene include an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, magazines, mobile phones and other personal effects.

In Kogi, it said the troops of 21 Battalion, in collaboration with vigilantes, rescued four kidnapped passengers along the Anyigba–Itobe road in Ofu Local Government Area.

It added that the victims were reportedly abandoned by their captors while attempting to cross a seasonal stream due to sustained pressure from advancing troops.

According to the military, efforts are ongoing to rescue other victims still in captivity.

The report said that troops of 12 Brigade successfully repelled an ambush along Kabba–Okene road while withdrawing from an earlier operation, forcing the assailants to flee with gunshot wounds.

“Meanwhile, in Rivers, troops of 5 Battalion acting on credible intelligence, foiled an attempt by suspected vandals to detonate a crude oil pipeline in Ahoada West Local Government Area.

“The swift response of the troops disrupted the operation before it could be executed, with the suspects fleeing the scene,” it said.

Metro

Police Arrest Private Chef Over Alleged N150m Theft, Drugging Of Employer, Burglary

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a chef, John Cosmos Govi, over his alleged involvement in a burglary operation at a residence in Abuja, where luxury items and valuables worth about N150 million were reportedly stolen.

The arrest was announced on Monday, May 25, 2026, by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, who said the suspect was apprehended by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) after investigations into allegations of criminal conspiracy, housebreaking, theft, malicious damage and administering harmful substances.

According to police findings, Govi, who allegedly gained employment as a chef at the residence, was said to have studied the movement of occupants, internal routine and security setup before allegedly carrying out the operation on April 23, 2026.

Investigators said he reportedly worked with two accomplices identified as Peter and Moses, who are currently on the run.

Police alleged that food prepared in the house was laced with a suspected sedative substance to weaken the occupants and security personnel.

After they reportedly became unconscious, the suspects allegedly broke into the property, damaged CCTV installations and stole 20 luxury wristwatches valued at about N150 million, alongside other valuables.

Speaking on the development, DCP Anthony Placid said the suspect was intercepted around the Gwagwalada axis of the Federal Capital Territory while attempting to flee to Lagos. He added that an iPhone 17 Pro Max, believed to belong to the victim, and a suspected chemical substance were recovered.

“We remain committed to dismantling organised criminal networks and ensuring that all fleeing accomplices are brought to justice,” Placid said.

Police said efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects and conclude investigations into the case.