Police Crack Down on Notorious Criminal Network
The Delta State Police Command has achieved another significant victory in its ongoing battle against violent crime with the dismantling of a dangerous armed robbery and kidnapping syndicate that had been terrorizing communities along the Asaba-Benin corridor.
Police Public Relations Officer Bright Edafe revealed that the breakthrough came following a distress call received at approximately 6:30 a.m. on November 23, 2025, reporting an active robbery operation around the Dustbin/Mango Tree area of the Asaba-Benin Expressway.
Swift Response Turns Violent
SP Danyaya Inusa, Commander of the Eagle Net Special Squad, immediately mobilized surveillance operatives who joined forces with personnel from the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service under the leadership of DSP Abu Joshua.
What began as a standard rescue mission quickly escalated into a dangerous confrontation when the armed gang ambushed the security team with what Edafe described as "sporadic gunfire." The operatives responded with "controlled precision" fire, eventually overpowering the criminals and forcing them to flee the scene.
Hot Pursuit Leads to Arrests and Evidence Recovery
A determined chase resulted in the capture of three suspects: Oghenemaro Martins (25), Tarebi Miracle Ogbada (22), and Okorie James Kalu (19).
During the pursuit, the suspects abandoned a black bag that proved to be a crucial evidence repository. The bag contained:
- An English-made Beretta pistol
- A locally fabricated pistol
- Four live 9mm rounds of ammunition
- An HP laptop
- Multiple mobile phones
- A PS5 game console
- Various jewelry items
Police confirmed these items were linked to previous robbery victims in the Okpanam-Asaba axis, establishing clear connections to multiple violent attacks under investigation.
Separate Operation Targets Cult Activities
In a related development barely 24 hours later, the Command intensified its crackdown on cultism with the arrest of three suspected members of the Aye Confraternity in Sapele and Oghara.
Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) led by ASP Julius Robinson conducted coordinated raids at approximately 5:30 a.m. on November 24, 2025.
The operation led to the apprehension of Miracle Umukoro (52), Mudiaga Ukavwe (31), and Solomon Oghoro alias Spartan (30). Recovered items included a pump-action gun, six live cartridges, a cutlass, and a Toyota Sienna minivan with registration number LSR 621 JW allegedly used for surveillance and operational movements.
All three suspects from both operations remain in police custody while investigators continue profiling their criminal networks and potential involvement in additional crimes, including kidnappings reported along the expressway.
The recovered exhibits have been properly logged as evidence, and investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend additional syndicate members while dismantling their operational structures completely.
