The Delta State Police Command has announced fresh breakthroughs in its ongoing crackdown on kidnapping, armed robbery, and the proliferation of illegal firearms across the state.
In a statement issued on May 2, 2026, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed that operatives recorded significant successes in separate intelligence-led operations.
According to the statement, on April 29, 2026, at about 8:10 p.m., operatives of the CP Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) arrested a 45-year-old suspect, Shehu Malami, at Ogor Market in Ughelli.
“The suspect later led operatives to his hideout in Agbarha-Otor, where one AK-47 rifle and sixty-three rounds of live ammunition were recovered,” the statement read.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Malami is allegedly a member of a kidnapping syndicate responsible for terrorizing several communities, including Ughelli, Agbarho, Sapele, and Warri. Police authorities added that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang.
In a separate operation on May 2, 2026, around 8:35 a.m., the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations led a joint team comprising Buffalo, Crack, and Operation Delta Shield (ODS) units to a bush near the Customs checkpoint along the Benin–Asaba Expressway.
The search led to the recovery of another AK-47 rifle, a Beretta pistol, and six rounds of live ammunition.
“Investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being intensified to arrest the suspects,” the police stated.
The Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining pressure on criminal elements in the state.
He also urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspicious movements, assuring that “their identities will be treated with utmost confidentiality.”
The police say the operations are part of a sustained strategy to dismantle criminal networks and improve security across Delta State.