Rita Enemuru, Reporting
THE Delta State Police Command has recovered an AK-47 rifle, two pump-action guns, 55 rounds of live ammunition and seven live cartridges in two separate intelligence-led operations across the state.
The command also arrested three suspected members of the Black Axe confraternity in Kokori Community, Ethiope East Local Government Area.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, in Asaba.
According to the statement, operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), acting on credible intelligence about suspected kidnappers and armed robbers, stormed a suspected hideout in a bush around Uduere Community, Ughelli North LGA, at about 9pm on October 4.
The police said the suspects opened fire after sighting the operatives, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
The suspects reportedly fled the scene after they were unable to withstand the operatives’ firepower.
A search of the hideout subsequently led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, two AK-47 magazines, 55 rounds of live ammunition, one pump-action gun, seven live cartridges, one knife, one cutlass and a mobile phone.
The command said a manhunt was ongoing for the fleeing suspects.
In a separate operation carried out at about 12:45am on October 5, operatives of the Quick Response Squad (QRS) stormed a location along Ekrakra Road in Kokori Community following intelligence about suspected cult activities.
The police said the operatives had information that suspected members of the Black Axe confraternity were holding a meeting at the location.
According to the command, the suspects fled in different directions upon sighting the police, but three individuals were arrested.
They were identified as Uzubu Ufuoma, 33; Solomon Ovie, 27; and Remember Emuere, 31.
The police said that during the investigation, the suspects led operatives to an abandoned building at Okodjerhe Village, Kokori, where an automatic pump-action gun allegedly belonging to the group was recovered.
The three suspects remain in custody, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the group who fled.
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel E. Erale, warned kidnappers, armed robbers and cultists that the command would continue to identify their hideouts, disrupt their activities and bring them to justice.
Erale also urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly provide the police with credible information about suspicious persons and activities within their communities.
The latest operations form part of the command’s ongoing efforts to tackle kidnapping, armed robbery and cultism across Delta State.
