During my maiden Officers’ Conference, I directed Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Tactical Commanders to sustain the ongoing raids of criminal hideouts and black spots within their respective areas of responsibility. I also admonished them to remain resolute in the discharge of their primary duties, which include the protection of lives and property, the maintenance of law and order, and the promotion of public safety.
Furthermore, I charged all commanders to continually lecture and sensitize their men on the need to be civil, courteous and professional in their interactions with members of the public, stressing that while the Command will not tolerate criminality, it will also deal decisively with any erring officer who brings the Force into disrepute.
Below are some of the major breakthroughs recorded by the Command within the period under review.
1. DEATH OF SUSPECTED CULTIST / ARMED ROBBER AND RECOVERY ONE BARRETTA PISTOL AND FOUR ROUNDS OF LIVE AMMUNITION: Acting on credible intelligence that a group of suspected cultists were gathered suspiciously in a bush at Ughelli town, at about 1935hrs of 17/01/2026, operatives of CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) stormed the area, and upon arrival, the hoodlums engaged the team in gun duel which was repelled by the team. After an ensuing gun duel, the hoodlums fled with various degrees of bullet injuries. One of them was arrested with serious gunshot injuries and was taken to the hospital, where he later died while receiving treatment. One Beretta pistol with its four (4) rounds of live ammunition was recovered. Efforts to arrest the other fleeing suspects are ongoing.
2. FOILED PLANNED KIDNAP, RECOVERY OF ONE FNC RIFLE AND ONE PUMP ACTION GUN: Acting on intelligence, on 11th January 2026, at about 2135hrs, operatives of CP-SAT in collaboration with the community vigilantes, carried out a well-coordinated covert operation and cordoned off a criminal hideout located in an uncompleted building where six (6) suspected kidnappers were hibernating at a bush along Upper Agbarho area Ughelli North LGA. Upon sighting the police operatives, the suspects opened fire on them; however, the operatives responded with superior firepower, forcing the hoodlums to flee the scene with varying degrees of injuries, abandoning their arms and other items. Exhibits recovered include: One (1) FNC rifle loaded with one (1) round of live ammunition, One (1) pump-action gun with thirty-two (32) rounds of live cartridges. All exhibits have been recovered and taken into custody.
3. ARREST OF SUSPECTED CULTIST/ARMED ROBBER AND RECOVERY OF ONE LOCALLY FABRICATED GUN AND TWO LIVE CARTRIDGES: In line with proactive patrols and confidence-building operations across the State, on 10th January 2026, at about 0120 hours, operatives of Ekpan Division while conducting confidence-building patrol along Hausa Market, Ubeji, sighted five (5) suspected hoodlums loitering within the market area suspiciously. Upon sighting the police team, the suspects took to their heels and fled in different directions. The operatives chased and arrested one Gift Ojulowo (male, 30 years) of New Layout, Ubeji. A search conducted on the suspect led to the recovery of one (1) locally fabricated gun and two (2) live cartridges, concealed inside his trousers. During interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a member of the Aye Confraternity cult group. The suspect and recovered exhibits are currently in police custody.
4. ARREST OF SUSPECTED ARMED ROBBER AND RECOVERY OF ONE SINGLE BARRELED GUN: On 19th January 2026 at about 1400hours, operatives of Raiders unit acting on a tip-off arrested one Odinaka David and one other at Isheagu, and recovered one double-barreled gun, six rounds of live cartridges. The suspects have been taken into custody, and the investigation is ongoing.
5. ARREST OF SUSPECTED DRUG PEDDLER, RECOVERY OF WEED SUSPECTED TO BE LOUD: On 19th January 2026, operatives of Raiders Unit acting on intelligence stormed ogwashi-Uku and arrested one Joy Ezeni ‘f’ aged 45 years, and recovered one hundred wraps of weed suspected to be Loud. Suspect and exhibit are in custody while investigation is ongoing.
6. ARREST OF SUSPECT FOR POSSESSION OF ILLICIT DRUGS AND RECOVERY OF 36 BOTTLES OF NITROUS OXIDE POPULARLY KNOWN AS “LAUGHING GAS”: In furtherance of the Command’s sustained intelligence-led efforts to curb the circulation of illicit substances, operatives of the Raiders Unit, acting on intelligence, recorded a significant breakthrough on 8th January 2026, at about 1330 hours. The operation led to the arrest of one Obi Onuigbi Ndubuoso (male, 43 years) and thirty-six (36) bottles of illicit drugs, popularly known as LAUGHING GAS, were recovered from him. Suspect is in custody, and investigation is ongoing.
7. ARREST OF MURDER SUSPECT AT OGWASHI-UKU: On 8TH January 2026, at about 0731 hours, a report was received at Ogwashi-uku Division that at about 0320 hours of the same date, at Poly Road, by Adaigbo Filling Station, a 20-year-old male was stabbed to death while asleep. Upon receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ogwashi-Uku, promptly mobilised detectives to the scene. Preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased was allegedly stabbed by his brother, Aliyu Haman (male, 20 years), after taking some substance suspected to be illicit drugs. The suspect was arrested, and the weapon used in committing the crime was recovered.
Below are statistical summary of achievements recorded from 8th January to date
1. Number of firearms recovered – 11
2. No. of ammunition and cartridges recovered – 80
SUSPECTS ARRESTED:
1. Murder suspects arrested – 11
2. Suspected cultists arrested – 13
3. Rape/defilement suspects – 1
Number of recovered vehicles – 1
I would like to speak on the growing rate of murder cases and drug abuse amongst our youth, the death recorded at Ogwashi-uku was avoidable. The suspect is a chronic drug addict, and under the influence of drug abuse, he stabbed and killed his brother for no just cause. The Command under my leadership will not relent in their fight against sales and abuse of these illicit drugs, as I have ordered massive raids across the twenty-five local government areas of Delta State to ensure that all drug cartels are brought down in the State.
CONCLUSION: While assuring Delta residents of adequate security, I wish to use this medium to appreciate the Delta State Government for its continuous support to the command. I also urged members of the public, particularly those in the state, to support and cooperate with the State Government and Police in the fight against crime and criminality.
CP AINA ADESOLA
COMMISSIONER OF POLICE DELTA STATE COMMAND
