Police arrest suspects, recover weapons in Delta

Operatives of the Commissioner of Police-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) and the Eagle Net Special Squad of the Delta State Police Command have arrested many suspected criminals and recovered a cache of illegal weapons and stolen property across Ughelli, Oghara, Sapele and Asaba.
 
These were achieved in a sweeping two-day security operation that underscored the deepening fight against organised crime in Delta. The coordinated crackdown carried out between November 28 and 29, reveals the scale and brazenness of criminal networks terrorising communities in the state.
  
Confirming the development, the command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, stated that the CP-SAT operatives led by ASP Julius Robinson, launched targeted raids based on what he described as “credible and actionable intelligence” around the Ekuigbo axis of Ughelli. 
  
According to him, the officers intercepted Kelvin Oke, 42, allegedly a key actor in a theft syndicate, and recovered a stolen tricycle in his possession.
  
Edafe added that further operations cracked open more layers of the network, even as the team apprehended two additional suspects: Victor Oyaye, 26, of Otor-Ogor community, identified by investigators as the gang leader, and Monday Emakpo, 31, of Okpara community, residing in Agbara, Ughelli.   He informed that a second stolen tricycle and a locally made shotgun loaded with six live cartridges were recovered during the arrests.
  
He also disclosed that on November 29, the CP-SAT extended its offensive to the Oghara–Sapele axis, where operatives stormed the residence of Jeffery Saint, 28, of Ogharake, Oghara. 
  
The suspect reportedly attempted to flee but was subdued after a brief struggle. A search of his home uncovered a locally fabricated Beretta-style pistol and 15 rounds of live ammunition concealed for “imminent criminal deployment”.
  
In a related development, the Eagle Net Special Squad, led by SP Danyaya Inusa, recorded another breakthrough during what began as a routine stop-and-search around the Northwest Filling Station near Mariam Babangida Junction along the Asaba/Benin Expressway.  Edafe explained that what appeared to be a standard traffic check quickly escalated into a foot chase when a suspect attempted to escape. 
  
“The police apprehended him and identified him as Ezekiel Edeya, 28, of Emevo in Isoko North Local Council. A red handbag he abandoned during the chase contained a locally made pistol, three live cartridges, an iron plier, and a screwdriver.
 
“All suspects are in police custody as investigations continue,” he said.