Controversies have trailed the arrest of 270 suspects by men of the Delta State Police Command in Warri, Ughelli and Uvwie local government areas last week Wednesday and Thursday, with many of them dismissing police allegations that they were cultists and illicit drug peddlers.

Children and relations of some of those arrested in a trending video at the front of a police station, insisted that their parents and relatives were innocent.

An activist, Mr Israel Joe queried why the police failed to arraign the suspects in court, particularly those whisked away last Wednesday, an act he said violated their rights.

He also alleged that one of those arrested later gave up the ghost.

Meantime, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police, SP Bright Edafe confirmed the arrest in a press statement. He said it was led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, to rid dark spots of criminal elements.

He also dismissed as untrue allegation by Mr Joe that one of the suspects passed on.

“Operatives of the command led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, and drawn from the Buffalo Operational Team and other tactical units, carried out targeted raids across Warri South, Uvwie, and Okpe Local Government Areas of Delta State.

‎During the operation, a total of 59 suspects comprising 51 males and eight females were arrested at identified criminal hideouts, including a notorious bush bar.

‎”In a related development, on 26th March 2026, DCP Adejobi led another team of operatives drawn from the Crack Squad, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), and Buffalo Squad on an aggressive raid of criminal locations within Ughelli town.‎

“The raid resulted in the arrest of two hundred and thirteen (213) suspects,” he said. (Saturday Vanguard)