The Delta State Police Command has achieved significant progress in its fight against kidnapping and illegal arms trafficking through intelligence-led operations that resulted in multiple arrests and the recovery of assault rifles, ammunition, and a suspected operational vehicle.
Arrests and Recoveries
According to the Command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, operatives of the tactical team based in Ughelli conducted the operations between April 23 and April 24, 2026, targeting criminal networks operating both within and beyond the state. On April 24 at approximately 6:30 p.m., police acting on credible intelligence arrested Ahmadu Usman, a 22-year-old native of Lafia, at the Ekuigbo area of Ughelli. The suspect is linked to a kidnapping syndicate that has been terrorizing commuters along the Ughelli–Warri Road.
Further interrogation led officers to Trailer Park along the Warri–Sapele Road, where another suspect, Haruna Abdullahi, 37, was arrested. During this operation, operatives recovered an AK-47 rifle loaded with 36 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition. Both suspects are currently in custody as investigations continue.
Inter-State Gun-Running Network
In a related operation on April 23, the tactical team arrested another suspect in Ughelli for alleged involvement in an inter-state gun-running and kidnapping network. The suspect was apprehended alongside Haruna Jibrin, 30, a native of Wase, who investigators said was assigned to transport arms from Ughelli to Port Harcourt. Follow-up operations on April 24 extended to Port Harcourt, where another suspected accomplice, Isiyaku Adamu, 38, was arrested. Police recovered the AK-47 rifle intended for transportation, along with a blue Toyota Corolla allegedly used by the syndicate.
Police Commitment to Public Safety
The Command stated that investigations are ongoing to uncover the full scope of the network, identify other collaborators, and determine links to kidnapping incidents across state lines. Reacting to the breakthroughs, the Commissioner of Police, Yemi Oyeniyi, reaffirmed the command’s zero-tolerance policy for kidnapping and illegal arms trafficking. He assured residents of sustained intelligence-driven operations to dismantle criminal networks, restore confidence on highways, and improve public safety across the state.
