By Augustine Ehikioya
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Ari Muhammed Ali has listed several successes recorded in the State against criminal elements.
The achievements, according to him, covered the period from 25th of August, 2021 to 5th of October, 2021.
He made the disclosure in a press statement, made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA).
The successes recorded included arrests of armed robbers, notorious kidnappers, cultists, murderers, recovery of arms, ammunition, vehicles and Dangote truck.
Highlighting the achievements, he said “On the 5/10/2021 at about 1130 hours, men of ‘A’ Division, Asaba, Patrol team while on stop and search duty along Nnebisi Road in Asaba, they intercepted a commercial bus coming from Onitsha. Upon search, seven hundred and fifty (750) rounds of live cartridges were recovered from one of the passengers named Ogor Mokwe ‘m’ age 28 Years from Ajaji Village, Illah. Suspect was arrested and investigation is ongoing.
“The Command while acting on credible information on a planned kidnap of one Mrs. Obiagheli Eze-Nwane who is the PDP Women Leader and wife of Obi Agadagidi ‘1’ of Umunede Kingdom and one Fubu ‘m’ who is into oil and gas by a gang of kidnappers. Men of the Command Special Anti-kidnapping and Cyber-Crime Squad in a combined effort with Operatives of Intelligence Response Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja intercepted the gang around Agbor by the rail way track.
“The gang engaged the teams in a heavy gun duel and in the process the gang were over powered by the combined team. Four of the suspected members of the gang sustained serious gunshot injuries while others escaped into the surrounding bush with traces of blood.
“The injured suspects were taken to the hospital where they gave up the ghost while receiving treatment. Investigation later revealed that three among the suspects were on death roll who escaped from Oko Maximum Prison in Edo State during the ‘ENDSARS’ Jail break. Exhibits recovered at the scene of attack includes one (1) AK 47 rifle, two (2) magazines, two pump action guns, twenty-eight (28) rounds of AK 47 live ammunition, thirty one (31) rounds of live cartridges. Investigation is ongoing,” he said.
On the third achievement, he said “On 01/10/2021 at about 0730hrs Policemen attached to Bomadi Divisional Patrol team while on stop and search duty along Bomadi – Tuomo Road intercepted a cyclist carrying one Solomon Ebe ‘m’ age 37yrs of Tuomo Community, Burutu LGA Delta State carrying bag containing Garri.
“On reasonable suspicion, they decided to search the suspect and the bag. Upon search, three hundred and forty (340) rounds of AK47 live ammunition hidden inside the Garri were recovered. Suspect was arrested and investigation is ongoing.”
“On 29/09/2021 at about 0230hrs acting on credible information that a serial kidnap Kingpin, Omote Augustine ‘m’ A.K.A Elephant age 30yrs who has carried out several kidnappings in Oleh and its environs was sighted in Olomoro. Police Operatives/Vigilante teams were deployed to the area where the said Omote Augustine, one Oghenevwede Clement ‘m’ 28yrs old and Saturday Amos ‘m’ 26yrs old were arrested.”
For the fifth achievement, the Commissioner of Police said “On 25/09/2021 at about 0145hrs acting on intelligence gathered that members of Aiye confraternity a.k.a black axe were carrying out an initiation in the bush at Onicha-Ugbo community in Aniocha North LGA.
“The Command Anti Cult Unit (SACU) operatives were deployed to the area. The team stormed the initiation ground that night and they were able to foil the initiation process which also led to the arrest of ten (10) male suspected cultists while others escaped into the bush. One locally made revolver pistol with four (4) live and one (1) expended 9mm ammunition and two expended cartridges were recovered from two of the suspected cultist while some weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, one Honda Accord car with Reg no. Lagos KSF 586 DU, five motorcycles were recovered. Investigation is ongoing.”
According to him, six additional suspects were arrested in connection to the murder of the Prince of Orhuwhorun.
He said “As a follow up on the sequel to the murder of Prince of Orhuwhorun, one Prince Eric Takerere, two mobile Policemen and their rifles carted away and also the attempted murder of his brother Prince Franklyn Takerere. Effort has been on to arrest the other fleeing members of the gang. On the 06/09/2021, Operatives from the Delta State Anti-kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squad (SAKCCS) carried out diligent and painstaking investigation on the two suspects one Godspower Agabarhayowe “aka” Ganagana ‘m’ age 27 years and Tony Edwin ‘m’ age 27 years were arrested 09/07/2021 in connection to the murder.
“They led the Police operatives to their hideout in Udu, Warri and Aladja areas where six suspects namely Onoriode Shefo “aka” Chikago “m” age 36yrs, Omagbeosa Sholla “m” age 30yrs, Godwin Obukoemu “aka” Million “m” age 30yrs, Ejime Mugagbam “m” age 34yrs, Ejiroghenen Nushe “m” age 24yrs and Egho Monday “m” age 28yrs.
“They all confessed to be involved in the murder of Prince Eric Takerere and his two mobile Policemen. They also led the operatives to their armoury where two AK47 rifles, one pump action gun, one locally made pistol, four magazines, seventy six rounds of live ammunition and thirty eight rounds of live cartridges were recovered.”
On the seventh achievement, he said “On 31/08/2021 at about 0930hrs while Illah Divisional patrol team were on Aberdeen patrol along Illah – Asaba road, they received a report from one Bature Ibrahim, a driver of Dangote company truck, that at about 0300hrs of the date while trying to park his truck with Reg. DAS. 690 ZY loaded with Nine Hundred (900) bags of cement at Okpella in Edo State, four (4) armed men emerged from the bush dragged him and his conductor into the bush gave them several machete cuts.
“The patrol swung into action immediately and after due intelligence led investigation, they located the truck somewhere in Illah where it was parked. On sighting the patrol vehicle the suspects jumped into the bush and took to their heels, the Police in a combined effort with the local vigilantes chased them and four (4) suspects namely Ozioma Umez ‘m’, Uchenna Idenyi ‘m’, Chibuike Nwamgbo ‘m’ and Chiolada Nomha ‘m’ were arrested in connection with the crime. Two (2) cutlasses were also recovered from the suspects. Investigation is ongoing.”
“On 28/8/2021 at about 1730hrs the Divisional Patrol team from Otu-Jeremi Police Station while on stop and search duty along Egbo/Otokutu road received information that four (4) suspected armed robbers who had earlier snatched two (2) vehicles, a Gold colour Toyota Camry with Reg. No. RSH 291 AW and a Custom colour Lexus 350 Jeep with Reg. No. WWR 737 KL abandoned the vehicles at Otokutu community due to suspected mechanical faults and were escaping in a tricycle.
“The team swung into action and chased the hoodlums but the gang on sighting the Police team opened fire on them and in the ensuing gun battle the hoodlums were forced to abandon the tricycle. Two of the hoodlums escaped and ran into the bush while two others were fatally wounded and found in the tricycle with gunshot injuries. One AK47 rifle with breech No. not visible, an empty magazine, a cash sum of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200,000.00), gold jewelries were recovered.
“The suspects who sustained gunshot injuries where rushed to the hospital where they gave up the ghost while receiving treatment. Combined teams of Police/Vigilante were deployed to comb the bush for the possible arrest of the other fleeing members of the gang and in the process recovered another AK47 rifle with breach number NK344397 with two magazines and 3 live ammunition. Investigation is ongoing,” he stated.
For the final achievement, he said “On 25/9/2021 information was received that on date during a wedding ceremony at Wetland Hotel, one bouncer Francis Utuedor stabbed one Oghenemaro Eriana ‘m’ age 15yrs on the right side of the victim’s chest, victim was rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead. The suspect was arrested and currently undergoing investigation.”
Assuring Delta residents of adequate security, he also solicited for their continuous understanding, support and cooperation with the State Government and Police Authorities in the fight against crime and criminality in the state.
To discourage the practices of cultism and drug abuse in the State, he said that the Command will be embarking on a sensitization program across the State.