The Delta State Police Command has arrested five suspects and recovered four locally made single-barrelled guns, three vehicles, three motorcycles and several items suspected to have been stolen in separate operations across the state.

The operations, conducted on September 19, 2026, in Orerokpe, Ekpan and Agbor, also led to the recovery of a live cartridge, 22 air-conditioners, 13 washing machines, 29 motorcycle and tricycle engines, musical equipment, television sets, a generator, a laptop and other suspected stolen items.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

Edafe said operatives of the Orerokpe Division, working with members of the Civilian Anti-Cult group in Osubi, intercepted two Toyota Sienna vehicles loaded with musical equipment along the Warri-Sapele Road.

He said the occupants fled on sighting the police, but one of them, 45-year-old Lawrence Onowenakpo, was arrested.

“A search of the vehicles led to the recovery of three locally made single-barrelled long guns and one live cartridge,” the statement said.

According to Edafe, Onowenakpo, during preliminary interrogation, allegedly identified Ajeh Zephaniah, aka Fanta, as the gang leader.

He said Zephaniah had previously been arrested and arraigned for armed robbery before being granted bail on health grounds.

Edafe said further investigation led the joint team to a scrap yard in Warri, suspected to be the gang’s operational base, where the operatives recovered three motorcycles, 22 air-conditioners, 13 washing machines, 29 motorcycle and tricycle engines, musical equipment, television sets, a generator, a laptop and other suspected stolen items.

“Preliminary investigation links the gang to recent armed robberies within the Kwale and Warri axes,” Edafe said.

He added that efforts were ongoing to arrest Zephaniah and other members of the group who remained at large.

In a separate operation in Ekpan, Edafe said operatives responded to a distress call at about 6:40pm on the same day over a man allegedly threatening people around the Scrap Yard axis of the Effurun-Sapele Road.

He said the operatives arrested 23-year-old Meshach Onovoisa and recovered a locally made single-barrelled gun from him.

“During preliminary investigation, the suspect allegedly admitted that he is an armed robber,” the statement added.

Edafe further said operatives of the Agbor Division, acting on credible intelligence, arrested three men identified as Agbaja Promise, 20; Emmanuel Ovieh, 25; and Odiri Dama, 25, all from Benin City, Edo State.

He said the suspects were allegedly arrested while attempting to dispose of a Hijet minibus with registration number BEN-485-XH for N300,000 without producing documents for the vehicle.

“The vehicle was recovered, while its rightful owner was subsequently identified and contacted,” the statement stated.

Edafe said the Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale, commended the operatives and members of the public whose cooperation contributed to the operations.

He added that the CP reiterated the command’s resolve to dismantle criminal networks across the state and urged residents to continue providing the police with credible and timely information. (The PUNCH)