Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested four suspected armed robbers and recovered two firearms during separate stop-and-search and patrol operations in Asaba.

The command said the arrests occurred on April 23, 2026, by officers of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and the Crack Squad as part of proactive policing efforts aimed at preventing violent crimes and dismantling criminal networks.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, said in a statement on Friday that RRS operatives on routine stop-and-search duty along Ugbolu/Asaba Road intercepted one Chinoso Igwemma, 28, whose conduct raised suspicion.

He said a search of the suspect led to the recovery of one fabricated Beretta pistol.

“The timely intervention of the operatives averted a potential violent crime. The suspect is currently in custody and under investigation,” the statement said.

In a separate operation, operatives of the Crack Squad on patrol in the Bonsaac area of Asaba intercepted a tricycle carrying three male occupants identified as Umuadi Benjamin Chinecherem, 30; Nwabueze Kelvin, 28; and Okonkwo Celestine, 30.

According to the police spokesman, a thorough search on the suspects led to the recovery of one locally made cut-to-size pistol loaded with one live cartridge.

Preliminary investigation, Edafe said, revealed that the suspects were linked to criminal activities, including dispossessing residents of their belongings.

The police added that efforts were ongoing to uncover the suspects’ network and apprehend other accomplices.

Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and proactive strategies aimed at crime prevention across the state.

Meanwhile, Oyeniyi also embarked on courtesy visits to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as part of efforts to strengthen inter-agency collaboration and improve the state’s security architecture.

During his visit to the NSCDC, he was received by the State Commandant, Commandant Chinedu Fabian Igbo, where he stressed the importance of intelligence sharing, mutual respect and coordinated operations among security agencies.

He also commended the existing partnership between the police and the NSCDC, especially in protecting critical national assets and infrastructure.

At the FRSC Sector Command 5.2, the police commissioner was received by the Sector Commander, Charles Eyo Edem, and praised the corps for its efforts in road safety management and reducing traffic-related incidents.

Oyeniyi emphasised the need for stronger collaboration in ensuring public safety on major highways and sustained information sharing between both agencies.

He noted that no single security agency could achieve optimal results in isolation, adding that synergy remained the cornerstone of effective security operations.

The visits, according to the command, are part of a broader engagement strategy to foster unity of purpose among security stakeholders and reinforce collective efforts to safeguard lives and property in Delta State.

(The Nation)