The Delta State Police Command has achieved a significant breakthrough in its ongoing campaign against organized crime in Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area, exposing what authorities describe as an increasingly sophisticated network of criminal elements operating within the community.
Coordinated Police Operation Yields Results
According to police spokesperson Bright Edafe, the recent operation was conducted by the CP–Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) under the leadership of ASP Julius Robinson. The team's sustained raids have revealed the extensive scale of organized criminal activity flourishing in and around Oghara.
This development follows the November 24 arrest of confessed cult members and the recovery of a pump-action gun along with other incriminating evidence. Building on intelligence gathered from that initial operation, CP-SAT operatives intensified their surveillance efforts and launched coordinated follow-up raids across strategic hotspots in Oghara on November 25, 2025.
Arrests and Weapon Recovery
The police sweep resulted in the apprehension of two additional suspects identified as Justice Ikutu, 38, and Peter Okomeje, 55. Both individuals are allegedly connected to a widening criminal syndicate believed responsible for recent increases in cult violence and armed robbery throughout the area.
During a search conducted at the residence of another suspected gang member named Peter Kome, investigators made a startling discovery: a loaded AK-47 rifle fitted with a double magazine. This finding, along with other recovered exhibits, suggests the presence of a more entrenched and organized criminal network than law enforcement had previously anticipated.
Police Response and Community Appeal
All suspects are currently in police custody, and operatives are actively pursuing leads to identify and arrest additional members of the criminal syndicate.
Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, praised the rapid response and tactical precision demonstrated by the CP-SAT team. However, he emphasized that policing efforts alone cannot dismantle the criminal ecosystem thriving in the region.
The police chief appealed to residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by providing actionable information. This appeal comes amid rising public anxiety over recurrent cult clashes, armed robberies, and gang-related killings across several Delta communities.
As investigations continue to deepen, the police command has reaffirmed its determination to restore order in Oghara and prevent the town from becoming a safe haven for weapon-bearing criminal networks.
Separate Controversy Involving Traditional Ruler
In unrelated developments, Chief Jerry Nkeweshe, the Owelle of Onicha-Olona, has demanded the withdrawal of a police statement linking him to the killing of three youths in the Okwe community near Asaba.
The Delta State Police Command had previously announced a manhunt for Nkeweshe and others alleged to have led an armed group that attacked the community on November 24, resulting in the deaths of the young victims.
However, reacting through his lawyer Kelechi Nnadi on Wednesday, Nkeweshe denied any involvement and described the police statement as false and damaging. His legal representative stated that Nkeweshe was not in Okwe or anywhere within Asaba on the day of the incident, explaining that the traditional ruler had left the city earlier that morning for medical attention in Umunede, where he remained throughout the day.
