Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
THE atmosphere at the Delta State Police Command headquarters this week was one of guarded confidence as the Commissioner of Police, Aina Adesola, laid bare the scale and intensity of the command’s recent operations against violent crime, cultism and drug abuse. Beyond the statistics, the briefing offered a sobering portrait of a state grappling with armed criminality and substance abuse, and of a police force under renewed pressure to respond decisively while maintaining public trust.
Between 8 January and 19 January 2026, police operations across Delta State led to the arrest of no fewer than 25 suspects, the recovery of 11 firearms and the seizure of 80 rounds of ammunition and cartridges. Those figures, according to the commissioner, reflect the outcome of sustained intelligence-led raids on criminal hideouts and known black spots, ordered shortly after he assumed office.
Among those arrested were 11 murder suspects, 13 suspected cultists and one suspect linked to rape or defilement, alongside the recovery of a stolen vehicle. Yet behind the numbers are violent encounters that underscore the dangers faced by both residents and security operatives.
One such encounter occurred on the evening of 17 January in Ughelli, where operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team stormed a bush location following intelligence on the gathering of suspected cultists. The suspects reportedly engaged the police in a gun battle before fleeing with gunshot wounds. One suspect, arrested with critical injuries, later died in hospital. A Beretta pistol loaded with four rounds of live ammunition was recovered at the scene, while efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects continue.
Just days earlier, a planned kidnapping was foiled in the Upper Agbarho area of Ughelli North Local Government Area. Acting on intelligence and working with community vigilantes, police cordoned off an uncompleted building where suspected kidnappers were believed to be hiding. The suspects opened fire but were overpowered and forced to flee, abandoning an FNC rifle, a pump-action gun and dozens of live cartridges. For the police, the operation was a reminder of the increasingly sophisticated weaponry in the hands of criminal gangs.
Routine patrols have also yielded results. In Ubeji, operatives arrested a 30-year-old man, Gift Ojulowo, after spotting a group behaving suspiciously near Hausa Market in the early hours of the morning. A locally fabricated gun and two live cartridges were recovered from him, and he later confessed to being a member of the Aye Confraternity cult group. Similar tip-offs led to the arrest of suspected armed robbers in Isheagu, where another firearm and ammunition were seized.
Alongside violent crime, drug abuse featured prominently in the commissioner’s briefing. In Ogwashi-Uku, police arrested a 45-year-old woman with 100 wraps of cannabis suspected to be “Loud”, while another suspect was found in possession of 36 bottles of nitrous oxide, popularly known as laughing gas. These arrests, the commissioner said, are part of a broader strategy to dismantle drug networks fueling violence, particularly among young people.
That concern was sharply illustrated by a tragic murder case in Ogwashi-Uku, where a 20-year-old man was stabbed to death while asleep. Investigations revealed that the suspect was the victim’s brother, allegedly acting under the influence of illicit drugs. The commissioner described the killing as “avoidable” and cited it as a stark example of the destructive consequences of drug abuse.
Beyond enforcement, Adesola stressed discipline within the ranks, warning that while the command would show no tolerance for criminality, it would also deal decisively with any officer found wanting in professionalism or conduct. He emphasised the need for officers to remain civil and courteous in their dealings with the public, even as operations intensify.
As the briefing drew to a close, the commissioner assured residents that the police remain committed to safeguarding lives and property across Delta State.
He acknowledged the support of the state government and called on citizens to continue cooperating with law enforcement agencies, insisting that the fight against crime and drug abuse cannot be won by the police alone.
In a state where the lines between cult violence, armed robbery and drug abuse often blur, the latest police operations signal a renewed push to reclaim public spaces and restore confidence. Whether the momentum can be sustained, and translated into lasting security, remains a question many residents will be watching closely.
