By Reen Chidi
The Delta State Police Command has announced a series of operational breakthroughs across Orerokpe, Ekpan and Agbor, resulting in the arrest of five suspects and the recovery of four locally made single-barrelled guns, three vehicles, three motorcycles and a large quantity of property suspected to have been stolen.
The Command said the operations, conducted on September 19, 2026, also led to the recovery of a live cartridge and various items, including air-conditioning units, washing machines, motorcycle and tricycle engines, musical equipment, television sets, a generator and a laptop.
Police Intercept Vehicles Carrying Musical Equipment
According to the Command, operatives of Orerokpe Division, working with members of the Civilian Anti-Cult group in Osubi, intercepted two Toyota Sienna vehicles conveying musical equipment under suspicious circumstances along the Warri-Sapele Road.
The occupants reportedly fled on sighting the police, but one of them, identified as 45-year-old Lawrence Onowenakpo, was arrested.
A search of the vehicles allegedly led to the recovery of three locally made single-barrelled long guns and one live cartridge.
The police said preliminary interrogation of Onowenakpo allegedly led investigators to Ajeh Zephaniah, also known as “Fanta”, who the suspect reportedly identified as the alleged leader of the group.
The Command said Zephaniah had previously been arrested and arraigned for armed robbery but was later granted bail on health grounds.
Further investigation reportedly took the joint team to a scrap yard in Warri, which the police described as a suspected operational base of the group.
The police said officers recovered three motorcycles, 22 air-conditioning units, 13 washing machines, 29 motorcycle and tricycle engines, musical equipment, television sets, a generator, a laptop and other items suspected to have been stolen.
The Command said preliminary investigations had linked the alleged gang to recent armed robbery incidents around the Kwale and Warri axes.
It added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend Zephaniah and other members of the group who were still at large.
23-Year-Old Arrested With Locally Made Gun
In a separate operation at Ekpan, police operatives said they responded to a distress call at about 6:40 p.m. on September 19 concerning a man allegedly threatening people around the Scrap Yard axis of Effurun-Sapele Road.
The operatives arrested a 23-year-old man identified as Meshach Onovoisa and allegedly recovered a locally made single-barrelled gun from him.
The Command said preliminary interrogation indicated that the suspect allegedly admitted involvement in armed robbery, while investigation into the matter continues.
Three Arrested Over Alleged Attempt to Dispose of Vehicle
At Agbor, operatives of the Divisional Police Headquarters, acting on what the Command described as credible intelligence, arrested three men allegedly attempting to dispose of a Hijet mini bus with registration number BEN-485-XH for ₦300,000.
The suspects were identified as 20-year-old Agbaja Promise, 25-year-old Emmanuel Ovieh and 25-year-old Odiri Dama, all reportedly from Benin City, Edo State.
According to the police, the suspects were unable to produce documents establishing ownership of the vehicle at the time of the attempted transaction.
The vehicle was recovered, while its rightful owner was subsequently identified and contacted, the Command said.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Police Reiterate Commitment to Tackling Criminal Networks
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel E. Erale, commended the officers involved in the operations as well as members of the public whose cooperation, according to the Command, contributed to the successes.
CP Erale reiterated the Command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks operating across the state.
He also urged residents to continue providing the police with credible and timely information that could assist in preventing and investigating criminal activities.
