By Onomiguren Agbamu
The Delta State Police Command has arrested five suspected armed robbers and recovered four locally made guns, three vehicles, three motorcycles and a large quantity of suspected stolen property in separate operations across the state.
The operations, carried out on September 19 in Orerokpe, Ekpan and Agbor, also led to the recovery of suspected stolen church equipment, household appliances, vehicle parts and other items, the command said in a statement on Tuesday.
In Orerokpe, police operatives, working with members of the Civilian Anti-Cult group in Osubi, intercepted two Toyota Sienna vehicles carrying musical equipment along the Warri-Sapele Road.
The occupants reportedly fled when they sighted the operatives, but the police arrested a 45-year-old man, Lawrence Onowenakpo.
A search of the vehicles allegedly uncovered three locally made single-barrelled long guns and a live cartridge.
The police said Onowenakpo, during preliminary interrogation, allegedly identified Ajeh Zephaniah, also known as Fanta, as the leader of the suspected gang.
According to the command, Zephaniah had previously been arrested and arraigned for armed robbery but was granted bail on health grounds.
Further investigation led the police to a scrap yard in Warri, allegedly being used as the gang’s operational base, where officers recovered three motorcycles, 22 air-conditioning units, 13 washing machines, 29 motorcycle and tricycle engines, musical equipment, television sets, a generator, a laptop and other items suspected to have been stolen.
The command said preliminary investigation had linked the gang to recent armed robbery incidents in the Kwale and Warri areas, adding that efforts were ongoing to arrest Zephaniah and other members who escaped.
In a separate operation in Ekpan, police responded to a distress call at about 6:40 p.m. over a man allegedly threatening people around the Scrap Yard area of Effurun-Sapele Road.
The operatives arrested 23-year-old Meshach Onovoisa and allegedly recovered a locally made single-barrelled gun from him.
The command said the suspect allegedly admitted during preliminary interrogation to being an armed robber, while investigation into the case continues.
In Agbor, police operatives acting on intelligence arrested three men identified as Agbaja Promise, 20; Emmanuel Ovieh, 25; and Odiri Dama, 25, all from Benin City, Edo State.
The trio were allegedly caught attempting to sell a Hijet mini bus with registration number BEN-485-XH for ₦300,000 without producing ownership documents.
The police said the vehicle was recovered and its alleged owner subsequently identified and contacted.
Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel E. Erale, commended the operatives and members of the public whose cooperation contributed to the arrests and recoveries.
He urged residents to continue providing credible and timely information to the police, while assuring the public that the command would sustain efforts to dismantle criminal networks across the state.
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