Rita Enemuru, Reporting
….Commissioner reveals 455 cases charged to court as state records ‘immense success’ against violent crime
ASABA – In a sweeping first-quarter press briefing that laid bare the dark underbelly of Delta State’s criminal landscape, Commissioner of Police CP Yemi Oyeniyi has detailed a relentless three-month campaign against kidnappers, armed robbers, drug cartels, and a shadowy organ-trafficking ring that left a 19-year-old woman without her womb.
Addressing journalists at the State Headquarters in Asaba, CP Oyeniyi painted a picture of a command operating in overdrive – intelligence-led raids, gun duels in bush hideouts, and the interception of cocaine concealed inside ordinary energy-saving light bulbs.
“The command under my leadership has continued to make Delta State hot for criminals through continuous proactive and intelligence-driven policing,” the Commissioner declared.
Between February and April 2026, the command charged 455 cases to court, secured 205 convictions, with another 250 cases currently being tried across the state’s 25 local government areas.
But behind the statistics lie harrowing human stories.
‘They removed her womb without consent’
Perhaps the most disturbing revelation concerned a 19-year-old girl whose dream of a better life turned into a medical nightmare.
On 3rd April 2026, a mother from Ekpan community in Uvwie reported that her daughter – who lived with her father in Okpaka – had arrived looking visibly unwell. When pressed, the teenager revealed a chilling chain of exploitation.
She told police that in September 2025, she and two friends were introduced by one Blessing Mongo, 47, to another woman named Esther, 32, who then connected them to a third suspect, Onome, 36. The destination: Ivory Coast. The stated purpose: prostitution.
“Days after her arrival in Ivory Coast, the victim stated that she was injected with an unknown substance and rushed to hospital,” CP Oyeniyi told the briefing. “By the time she woke up, she noticed that her stomach was bandaged.”
The traffickers flew her back to Nigeria and abandoned her in Lagos. She eventually found her way home to Delta State.
Medical examination later confirmed the unthinkable: her womb had been surgically removed without her knowledge or consent.
Police have arrested Blessing Mongo and Esther. A manhunt for Onome continues. The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department.
“The two key suspects are presently in custody,” the Commissioner confirmed.
Bulbs, bullets, and a Beretta
In a separate operation on 13th April, officers from the Command’s Safer Highway Patrol stopped a commercial Sienna bus along the Onicha-Ugbo/Ewohimi road. The vehicle was heading to Abuja, driven by one Osuke Stephen, 47.
During a routine search, officers discovered illicit substances carefully concealed inside electric energy-saving bulbs. The haul included 490 grams of substance suspected to be cocaine, plus four grams of weeds suspected to be ‘loud’ and cannabis.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the substances were being transported to Abuja to be delivered to drug dealers,” CP Oyeniyi said. Efforts to arrest other suspects linked to the network are ongoing.
Gun duel at dawn: kidnappers killed, victims rescued, ransom recovered
One of the command’s most dramatic successes came in the early hours of 9th April. A coordinated operation involving the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber-crime Squad and military personnel saw officers track a kidnapping syndicate to a hideout along the Obulu-Uku Power Line.
The operation followed reports of abductions in Ibusa and Enu-Ani Mega City, Ogwashi-Uku.
“The suspects, on sighting the operatives, attacked them, leading to a gun duel,” CP Oyeniyi recounted. “The operatives responded professionally, resulting in the rescue of two female victims, while three members of the kidnapping syndicate were fatally wounded.”
From the scene, police recovered one AK-47 rifle, 19 rounds of ammunition, and a staggering four million, five hundred thousand Naira – believed to be part of the ransom paid by victims’ families. The money was handed back to the rescued individuals.
The three injured suspects were taken to hospital but pronounced dead by the doctor on duty.
‘Discipline is not optional’
The Commissioner took pains to stress that the command would not tolerate misconduct within its own ranks – a pointed reference to the ongoing fallout from the Effurun shooting incident, which saw ASP Nuhu Usman transferred to Force Headquarters for disciplinary action after fatally shooting a suspect.
“Discipline is not optional; it is the foundation upon which effective policing and public trust are built,” CP Oyeniyi said. “The command will continue to take firm action against any officer whose conduct falls short of the standards expected of our noble profession.”
He also issued a stark warning to land grabbers and violent groups posing as civil parties.
“The police will not get involved in land disputes or any civil matters,” he clarified. “However, it is the constitutional responsibility of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure protection of life and property. The command will not tolerate any individual or group that employs violence in their activities.”
Kidnap syndicate smashed, AK-47 seized
Earlier, on 24th April, operatives from the Ughelli-based tactical team arrested 22-year-old Ahmadu Usman in the Ekuigbo area – a known member of a kidnapping gang terrorising commuters along the Ughelli–Warri Road.
His interrogation led to the arrest of Haruna Abdullahi, 37, at a trailer park along Warri–Sapele Road. One AK-47 rifle loaded with 36 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition was recovered.
And on 16th March, following a kidnapping report at Issele-Uku Division, police collaborated with the military, local vigilantes, and hunters to comb surrounding bushes. A fierce gun battle ensued, during which one suspect was fatally wounded. Three kidnapped victims were rescued unharmed. One AK-47 rifle was recovered.
Armed robbery ring busted across state lines
The command also worked in tandem with Imo State Police to dismantle a burglary and armed robbery network targeting Okpanam, Asaba, and surrounding areas.
On 17th April at about 4am, operatives arrested Yushua Buhari, 19, and Garba Muazu, 25 – both residents of Am-Hausa in Owerri – during a stop-and-search operation. The pair were found in possession of stolen mobile phones and laptops taken from victims in Delta State.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects, after robbing innocent persons of phones, laptops and other gadgets, send the stolen items to Imo State through Yushau Buhari to sell them,” CP Oyeniyi said. A manhunt for other gang members is ongoing.
Call For Partnership
The Commissioner thanked the Inspector General of Police, the Delta State Government, security agencies, traditional rulers, civil society, vigilantes, and the press for their support.
He also appealed directly to residents.
“I call on all residents of Delta State to continue to partner with the command, provide credible information, as we jointly safeguard our communities and build a safer, more secure environment for all.”
Three emergency contact lines were released for public use:
· 08036684974
· 08114895600
· 08025666914
As the briefing concluded, CP Oyeniyi offered a sobering reflection on the scale of the task ahead. Drug abuse, he warned, had reached a “growing prevalence” that demanded sustained intelligence-led operations.
“Let me be clear,” he said. “This command will continue to pursue, disrupt, and dismantle drug networks wherever they exist.”
For the 19-year-old girl who returned from Ivory Coast with her womb removed – and for the families of the three men who died in that dawn gun battle near the power line – the promise of justice cannot come soon enough.
