Rita Enemuru, Reporting
THE Delta State Police Command says it has arrested 16 suspects and recovered firearms, a stolen Toyota Camry and quantities of suspected illicit drugs in separate operations across the state.
The Command disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, 10 September 2026, by its Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe.
In one of the operations, operatives of the Command Anti-Cult Unit, Ozoro, acting on credible intelligence about a proposed cult gathering in Aragba-Orogun, raided the location and arrested eight suspects.
The suspects were identified as Godspower Achubue, 27; Ziden Edem, 27; Kingsley Aniefem, 36; Omita John, 22; Onumu Happy, 22; Kenneth Ukpurakpo, 22; Juliet Festus, 26; and Oghenegueke Okuanah, 22.
According to the police, preliminary investigations were extended to the residence of one of the suspects, where a search warrant was executed.
The search reportedly led to the recovery of one pump-action gun and one live cartridge.
The police said investigation into the matter was ongoing.
Construction Site Extortion
In a separate operation on 8 September, operatives of Okpanam Division responded to a report that a group of people had allegedly invaded a construction site, stopped workers, seized their working tools and demanded ₦700,000 before allowing work to continue.
The operatives mobilised to the scene and arrested one Collins Dunkun, 30, while six other suspects reportedly fled.
A search of the arrested suspect led to the recovery of one locally made single-barrel pistol and one cartridge, according to the police.
The Command said efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.
Five Arrested Over Suspected Drug Activities
Also on 8 September, operatives of the Divisional Surveillance Team raided an uncompleted building at King Zanga, Ugbuegwai Community, Warri, following intelligence about suspected illicit drug activities at the location.
Five suspects — Rabi’u Salihu, 26; Salisu Suleiman, 23; Rabilu Ali, 24; Alhassan Mohd Mansur, 28; and Aliyu Abubakar, 25 — were arrested.
The police said quantities of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, Codeine, Colorado, Rizla, SK and Canadian Loud were recovered during the operation.
The suspects are in custody while investigation continues.
Stolen Toyota Camry Recovered in Ekpan
In another operation, Ekpan Division received a report concerning a brown Toyota Camry Pencil Light, with registration number BEN-572BT, which was reportedly stolen in Benin City on 7 September 2026.
The police said operatives commenced an intelligence-led investigation and subsequently trailed the vehicle to the New Era area of Jakpa Road, Ekpan.
According to the Command, the operatives laid an ambush after sighting the vehicle, leading to the arrest of Destiny Suleman, 41, and Samuel Ejiro, 21.
The stolen vehicle was also recovered.
The suspects remain in custody as investigation continues.
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel E. Erale, warned that cultism, unlawful possession of firearms, extortion, illicit drug activities and other criminal acts would not be tolerated in the state.
Erale further assured residents that the Command would continue to take proactive measures to prevent crime, dismantle criminal networks and bring offenders to justice.
The police said investigations into the various cases are ongoing.
