The Delta State Police Command has arrested 16 suspects in separate operations across the state, recovering two firearms, ammunition, illicit drugs and a stolen vehicle.
The operations, carried out between September 8 and 9, 2026, followed intelligence-led interventions targeting cult activities, extortion, drug trafficking and vehicle theft.
In Aragba-Orogun, operatives of the Command Anti-Cult Unit, Ozoro, raided a suspected cult gathering following credible intelligence and arrested eight suspects.
They were identified as Godspower Achubue, 27; Ziden Edem, 27; Kingsley Aniefem, 36; Omita John, 22; Onumu Happy, 22; Kenneth Ukpurakpo, 22; Juliet Festus, 26; and Oghenegueke Okuanah, 22.
A search of one of the suspects’ residences led to the recovery of a pump-action gun and a live cartridge.
In another operation at Okpanam on September 8, police arrested a 30-year-old suspect, Collins Dunkun, after a group allegedly invaded a construction site, stopped workers, seized their tools and demanded N700,000 before allowing work to continue.
Six other suspects reportedly fled the scene.
Police said a search of Dunkun led to the recovery of a locally made single-barrel pistol and a cartridge, while efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.
Also on the same day, operatives of the Divisional Surveillance Team raided an uncompleted building at King Zanga, Ugbuegwai Community, Warri, over alleged illicit drug activities.
Five suspects were arrested and identified as Rabi’u Salihu, 26; Salisu Suleiman, 23; Rabilu Ali, 24; Alhassan Mohd Mansur, 28; and Aliyu Abubakar, 25.
Police said quantities of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, Codeine, Colorado, Rizla, SK and Canadian Loud were recovered.
Meanwhile, operatives of Ekpan Division recovered a Toyota Camry Pencil Light allegedly stolen in Benin City, Edo State, on September 7.
Following an intelligence-led investigation, the vehicle was traced to the New Era area of Jakpa Road, Ekpan, where police laid an ambush and arrested Destiny Suleman, 41, and Samuel Ejiro, 21.
The vehicle was recovered and the suspects were taken into custody.
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel E. Erale, warned that cultism, illegal possession of firearms, extortion, illicit drug activities and other criminal acts would not be tolerated in the state.
Erale assured residents that the command would continue to use intelligence-led operations to prevent crime, dismantle criminal networks and prosecute offenders.
The command’s spokesman, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the arrests and recoveries, saying investigations into the cases were ongoing.
