Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Police have arrested 16 suspects in separate operations across Delta State, recovering two firearms, a stolen Toyota Camry and quantities of substances suspected to be illicit drugs.
The operations also disrupted a suspected cult gathering, stopped an alleged extortion attempt at a construction site and led to arrests linked to suspected drug activities.
Eight suspects were arrested during a raid on a suspected cult gathering in Aragba-Orogun following intelligence received by the Command Anti-Cult Unit, Ozoro.
The suspects were identified as Godspower Achubue, 27; Ziden Edem, 27; Kingsley Aniefem, 36; Omita John, 22; Onumu Happy, 22; Kenneth Ukpurakpo, 22; Juliet Festus, 26; and Oghenegueke Okuanah, 22.
A search warrant executed at the residence of one of the suspects led to the recovery of a pump-action gun and one live cartridge.
In a separate operation on September 8, police arrested 30-year-old Collins Dunkun following an alleged extortion attempt at a construction site in Okpanam.
The police said the suspects allegedly invaded the site, prevented workers from continuing their activities, seized their tools and demanded N700,000 before work could resume. Six other suspects escaped, while a search of Dunkun led to the recovery of a locally made single-barrel pistol and one cartridge.
The command said efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects were ongoing.
Also on September 8, police raided an incomplete building at King Zanga, Ugbuegwai Community, Warri, following intelligence on suspected illicit drug activities.
Five suspects, Rabi’u Salihu, 26; Salisu Suleiman, 23; Rabilu Ali, 24; Alhassan Mohd Mansur, 28; and Aliyu Abubakar, 25, were arrested, while substances suspected to be Indian hemp, Codeine, Colorado, Rizla, SK and Canadian Loud were recovered.
Meanwhile, two other suspects, Destiny Suleman, 41, and Samuel Ejiro, 21, were arrested in Ekpan during an operation that led to the recovery of a stolen Toyota Camry.
The brown Toyota Camry Pencil Light, with registration number BEN-572BT, was allegedly stolen in Benin City on September 7. Police traced the vehicle to New Era area of Jakpa Road, Ekpan, where officers laid an ambush and arrested the two suspects.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed the arrests and recoveries in a statement on Thursday.
The Commissioner of Police, Samuel E. Erale, warned that criminal activities including cultism, illegal possession of firearms, extortion and illicit drug activities would face sustained police action.
“Cultism, unlawful possession of firearms, extortion, illicit drug activities and other criminal acts will not be tolerated in the State.”
He added, “The command will continue to take proactive measures to prevent crime, dismantle criminal networks and bring offenders to justice.”
The suspects remain in custody as investigations into the various cases continue.
