Operatives of the CP Special Assignment team of the Delta State Police Command have busted a criminal hideout of some suspected kidnappers/armed robbers who have been terrorising residents of the Abraka/Obiaruku/Umutu axis of the state.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Command?s Public Relations Officer SP Bright Edafe, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri on Friday.

The statement noted that the feat followed an intelligence-led investigation carried out on the arrest of some suspected kidnappers on January 30, 2025.

According to the statement, operatives of the CP Special Assignment team led by ASP Julius Robinson ?made a significant achievement when they stormed the hideouts on February 2, 2025 and busted the house of the fleeing gang leader named Emeka, surname unknown, at about 1635hrs, located at Evwokenren Layout, off Ughelli road, Agbarho in Ughelli North Local Government Area.

?During the raid, a fabricated semi-automatic Beretta pistol with four rounds of live ammunition, four locally made cut-to-size guns, 13 rounds of live cartridges, and a pair of military uniforms concealed in a black polythene bag were recovered,? the police spokesman affirmed.

The PPRO further disclosed that the suspect is in custody while a manhunt to arrest other members of his gang is ongoing.

In another development, on February 19, 2025, at about 1600 hrs, operatives of Safer 025 of Safer Highway Patrol, while conducting a stop and search on a commercial vehicle along the Agbor/Benin express road, arrested three suspects in possession of three locally made long guns and charms.

On interrogation, the suspects, namely, Buhari Bala (28), Habibu Sale (25), Abdulwahab Musa (20), and Taisu Bala (20), all male, claimed they were coming from Zaria, Kaduna State, and going to a bush close to Benin called Igbogri community for a hunting expedition.

The police spokesman stated that the suspects are in custody just as the investigation is ongoing.

In an earlier development, on January 17, 2025, acting on a tip-off, the DPO Agbarho Division, CSP Pius Eredei, mobilised and led operatives to the apartment of one Eriga Enyuche, aged 40 years.

Upon search of his one-room apartment, one G-3 rifle and one pump-action gun were recovered from where they were hidden in the ceiling of the room.

The investigation is ongoing.

Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, has declared that the Command under his watch ?will not relent in the fight against crime and criminality.?

The CP maintained that ?Delta State will remain hot for criminals.?

He, therefore, urged members of the public to continue to make available to the Police Command useful, timely and credible information by reporting to the nearest police station or by calling the following Command Control Room numbers: 08036684974, 08114895600 and 08025666914. (The PUNCH)

Update news