THE Delta State Police Command, under the leadership of Commissioner of Police (CP) Olufemi Abaniwonda, has delivered a striking blow to criminal networks operating within and beyond the state’s borders.
In a comprehensive first-quarter press briefing on 16 April 2025, the CP outlined a rigorous and intelligence-driven policing approach that has led to the dismantling of several armed syndicates, massive seizures of arms and ammunition, and the rescue of kidnapped victims.
Strategic Outcomes and Disruptions
The Command’s relentless pursuit of criminals led to the arrest of 106 suspects, among them 35 armed robbers, 24 kidnappers, and 22 cultists. In CP Abaniwonda’s words, “We have made the state hot for criminals by continuous proactive and intelligence-driven policing.” This proactive stance is evident in the high-stakes engagements that neutralised violent syndicates and safeguarded civilian lives.
One of the most consequential operations was the neutralisation of a notorious kidnapping ring in the Ogwashi-Uku, Ibusa, Issele-Uku, and Ubuluku axis. The gang’s leader, Abubakar Usman alias “Shehu,” was apprehended and later killed in a gun battle alongside four accomplices. The operation, which recovered three AK-47 rifles and 90 rounds of live ammunition, also brought justice to the victims of several heinous acts, including the murder of Mr Godwin Anuka and the abduction and death of realtor Esther Ojoh.
Firearms Interdiction and Intelligence-Led Policing
The Command’s emphasis on disrupting the arms trade yielded remarkable results. In March alone, multiple gun-running operations were intercepted:
On 3 March, operatives arrested a suspect in Oghara transporting 3 AK-47 rifles and over 3,000 rounds of ammunition.
Just three days later, another bust at Onicha-Ugbo revealed seven pump-action guns and 1,600 cartridges disguised under goods in a vehicle.
A 69-year-old suspect from Kaduna and his 17-year-old accomplice were arrested, illustrating how inter-state arms trafficking is often masked under commercial pretences.
This crackdown on firearms proliferation underscores the CP’s claim that the Command is not only dismantling criminal networks but also “denying them the tools they rely on to terrorise communities.”
Kidnapping Countermeasures and Hostage Rescues
The first quarter witnessed the rescue of 13 kidnapped individuals, a testament to the operational readiness and coordination between the police and local communities. One such breakthrough was the rescue of five kidnapped worshippers from Elyon Paradise Ministry. Working with community vigilantes, police stormed Ubuluku forest, retrieving both victims and over ₦1.3 million in suspected ransom.
In a separate high-impact operation, suspects involved in kidnapping incidents in Ughelli North LGA were captured after an extensive manhunt and subsequent forest raid. Five gang members were fatally injured during a firefight, and a cache of arms including AK-47s, pump-action and locally made guns was recovered.
Cross-Border Coordination and Regional Influence
The Delta State Command extended its reach beyond state boundaries. Notably, in Rivers and Kogi States, collaborative sting operations led to the arrest of suspects and the recovery of firearms including Beretta pistols and ammunition. These operations underscore Delta’s influence in regional security architecture and the necessity of inter-state cooperation in crime control.
Cultism and Community Threats
The arrest of a youth leader in Ekpan in possession of an AK-47 rifle raised alarms about the infiltration of weapons into community structures. “No one is above the law,” CP Abaniwonda affirmed, reiterating the Command’s commitment to impartial enforcement, regardless of societal position. Cultism remains a pressing issue, but the arrest of suspects such as Stephen Oma Odu and Abel Festus (“Tompolo”) and the recovery of pump-action rifles and cartridges show encouraging progress.
Summary of First Quarter Recoveries
The numbers paint a compelling picture:
- 53 firearms recovered, including:
- 11 AK-47 rifles
- 13 pump-action guns
- 9 Beretta pistols
- 19 locally made/single-barrel weapons
- 5,612 rounds of ammunition and cartridges
- 106 suspects arrested, spanning robbery, kidnapping, murder, rape, and cultism
- 13 kidnapped victims rescued
