EBENEZER ADUROKIYA, Warri
The Delta State Police Command has arrested four suspected cultists and armed robbers in separate operations in Umunede and Ughelli, recovering seven firearms, 10 live cartridges, two stolen motorcycles and substances suspected to be illicit drugs.
The operations, according to a statement issued on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, followed reports of threats to life and motorcycle snatching in parts of the state.
In the first operation, two suspected cultists, identified as Chibuike Ezeji, 30, and Ikenna Emeka, 22, were arrested in Umunede following a report that Ezeji had allegedly threatened to kill a resident while brandishing a pistol.
The police said the incident was reported at the Umunede Police Division at about 1.15pm on October 30, 2026.
Acting on the complaint, police operatives, in collaboration with members of the Umunede Civilian Anti-Cult Group, proceeded to a residence along the Umunede Expressway, where the suspect was reportedly staying.
The operation led to the arrest of the two suspects.
A search of the premises reportedly yielded one pump-action gun, one locally made cut-to-size gun, three locally made pistols and eight live cartridges.
The police also recovered substances suspected to be cannabis and methamphetamine, popularly known as ice.
The command said the suspects were in custody and investigations were ongoing.
In a separate operation, operatives of the Commissioner of Police’s Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) arrested two suspected armed robbers over alleged motorcycle snatching in Ughelli.
The suspects, identified as Peter Emobaye, 22, and James Emmanuel, 29, were arrested on October 28, 2026, at about 5.30am during a raid on a suspected criminal hideout in the Ighrovie area of Ughelli.
The operation followed complaints of motorcycle snatching by armed men along Stadium Road, Saniko and adjoining areas of the town.
According to the statement, the operatives recovered a stolen Qlink motorcycle during the raid.
Following preliminary interrogation, the suspects reportedly led the police to the residence of their alleged gang leader, identified only as Sunny, in Ufuoma Town.
A search of the residence led to the recovery of another stolen motorcycle, a Daylong, one fabricated Beretta pistol, one locally made shotgun and two live cartridges.
The police said the two suspects remained in custody, while efforts were ongoing to arrest the alleged gang leader and other members of the suspected criminal syndicate.
Reacting to the arrests, the Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Samuel Etaifo Erale, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating cultism, armed robbery and the proliferation of illegal firearms.
He urged members of the public to continue providing the police with credible and timely information to support crime prevention and the protection of lives and property across the state.
The statement was signed by Edafe, the Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Command, Asaba, on October 31, 2026.
