The Delta State Police Command has recorded significant breakthroughs in its ongoing offensive against kidnapping, armed robbery, and illegal arms proliferation, with the arrest of a suspected kidnapper and the recovery of high-grade weapons across multiple operations.
In a statement issued on May 2, 2026, the Command disclosed that operatives of the CP Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), acting on credible intelligence, arrested a 45-year-old suspect, Shehu Malami, at Ogor Market in Ughelli on April 29 at about 8:10 p.m. Following his arrest, the suspect reportedly led police to his hideout in Agbarha-Otor, where officers recovered one AK-47 rifle and sixty-three rounds of live ammunition.
Preliminary investigations, according to the police, indicate that Malami is part of a kidnapping syndicate responsible for a wave of criminal activities across Ughelli, Agbarho, Sapele, Warri, and surrounding areas. Authorities confirmed that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang still at large.
In a separate operation carried out on May 2 at about 8:35 a.m., the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations led a joint team comprising Buffalo, Crack, and Operation Delta Shield (ODS) squads to a bush near the Customs checkpoint along the Benin–Asaba Expressway. The operation, also intelligence-driven, led to the recovery of another AK-47 rifle, a Beretta pistol, and six rounds of live ammunition.
The Command noted that investigations are ongoing to trace the origins of the recovered weapons and identify those connected to them, as part of a broader strategy to dismantle arms trafficking and criminal networks in the state.
Reaffirming the Command’s resolve, Commissioner of Police Yemi Oyeniyi stressed the importance of sustained pressure on criminal elements, stating that the police remain committed to maintaining the tempo of operations across Delta State.
He also called on residents to play an active role in security by reporting suspicious movements and individuals, assuring that all information provided would be treated with strict confidentiality.
