By ABIRHIRE THOMAS, South South
Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Ali Ari, has directed all Area Commanders, Division Police Officers and Tactical Commanders to embark on continuous raiding of criminal hideouts/black spots within their areas of responsibilities.
The CP gave the directives while parading some suspected criminals in Asaba, the state’s capital on Wednesday, and also admonished the Area Commanders on the need to remain committed to their primary duties, which include protection of life and property, maintenance of law and order among others.
He also asked them to lecture their men to be civil and polite when dealing with members of the public as, according to the Commissioner of Police, “the Command under my watch will deal decisively with any erring officer.”
Within the period under review, some of the major breakthroughs by the Delta State Command of the Nigerian Police Force under Ari are stated below:
ARREST OF MURDER SUSPECT INVOLVED IN THE KILLING OF THE FORMER DELTA STATE POLICE COMMAND OC LEGAL:
On 12/2/2022, one Chikwudi Emerenin ‘m’ age 27years was arrested in the State. The suspect was arrested by operatives of the Command while acting on intelligence gathered that he and his gang were hibernating somewhere in Aboh in Ndokwa East LGA. The Suspect who is an escapee from Owerri prison, was arrested on 12/2/2022 at about 2100hours and he is suspected to be part of the syndicate that killed the late Police officer Chris Kpatuma in Agwa clan, Oguta Local Government Area of Imo state. He also stated that he is related to the late police officer and that the leader of the gang is called “Mega Bush”. The suspect also revealed that the late officer was killed because he was a strong stakeholder and a titled man in the community and owing to the fact that he was a Retired Police Officer, they saw him as a threat to their Biafra Struggle hence they decided to kill him. The Suspect Chikwudi Emerenin is also suspected to be part of the syndicate that beheaded a vigilante member in Owerri and used his head as ball some time ago. Investigation is ongoing.
Some of the weapons and ammunition recovered.
RESCUE OF KIDNAPPED VICTIM/RECOVERY OF SUSPECTED STOLEN VEHICLE:
On 13/02/2022 at about 1920hrs, Police Divisional patrol teams while on routine stop and search duty along Warri-Ughelli Expressway Agbarho, flagged down a white colored Toyota Camry car with Reg No. JRT 795 TK with four (4) occupants. Upon sighting the Police, they zoomed off and the teams gave them a hot chase, consequent upon which the driver and the other occupants abandoned the said vehicle along Agbarho expressway and fled into the bush, abandoning one Shola Korokoro Kemepatei ‘m’ age 47. The victim stated that he was kidnapped at Orhuworhun in the early hours of Sunday 13/2/2022. Manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.
ARREST OF SUSPECT INVOLVED IN THE MURDER OF ONE MARY NGOZI, A POS
OPERATOR AND NOLLYWOOD ACTRESS IN BOJI BOJI OWA:
On 14/02/2022 at about 1640hrs, a distressed call was received by the DPO Owa-Oyibu that some suspects who robbed and shot some POS operators at Efeizomor Street, near Pekky Hotel in Owa-Oyibo have been arrested and
that they are being lynched by an angry mob. Police Patrol teams were quicky mobilized to the scene where the two suspects namely, Onyeka Ifeanyi ‘m’ aged 19 yrs of No.10 Ije Street Agbor and Bright Micheal Kester ‘m’ age 20yrs of No.5 Imudia Street Agbor were rescued from the mob and brought to the Station, One cut-to-size double barrel gun was recovered from them. Upon interrogation they confessed to have robbed several POS operators and also confessed that their gang members were responsible for the robbery and murder of one Mary Ngozi, a POS
operator and Nollywood actress at deeper life road on 7/12/2021. One of the Suspects Bright Michael Kester was taken to General Hospital for treatment due to injuries sustained from the Mob attack but gave up the ghost while receiving treatment. Investigation is ongoing.
Some of the weapons and ammunition recovered.
ARREST OF MURDER SUSPECTS:
On the 10/02/2022 at about 1400hrs, one Gift Ohanozoeze ‘f’ of no. 42 camp 74 behind Ibori golf Asaba, reported that on same date at about 1030hrs, her little baby boy named Obinna Adeeze aged 1yr & 7months, schooling at Arise and Shine nursery and primary school camp 74, was flogged by a Teacher named Emeka Joshua Nwogbo ‘m’ age 24years, after which the baby fell ill and was taken to Federal Medical Center Asaba for treatment. Sadly, on 12/02/2022 at about 0830hrs, the little boy died while receiving treatment. The suspects Emeka Joshua Nwogbo and the proprietress Mabel Nwagbo ‘f’ age 66yrs are currently in custody and will be charged to
court as soon as investigation is concluded.
ARREST OF SUSPECTED CULTISTS/ARMED ROBBERS AND RECOVERY OF LOCALLY MADE PISTOL/CARTRIDGE/ CUTLASS/CUTTER/HAMMER:
On 11/02/2022 at about 0400hrs acting on a tip off that a group of boys suspected to be armed robbers/cultists were hibernating in a four-bedroom apartment at Akperhe-Olomu Community in Otu-Jeremi, Ughelli South LGA. Operatives from Otu-Jeremi Division were detailed to raid the said hideout during which nine (9) suspects were arrested. One cut to size gun, one (1) live cartridge, one (1) cutlass, one (1) cutter and one (1) hammer were recovered. Investigation is ongoing.
ARREST OF ELEVEN SUSPECTED CULTISTS, RECOVERY OF TWO PUMP ACTION GUNS AND TEN LIVE CARTRIDGES:
Sequel to the Cult clash between Eiye and Black Axe confraternity in Agbarho, Ughelli North LGA that started on the 6/2/2022, which led to the death of five persons, I directed the Command Anti-Cult Unit (SACU), Dragon Patrol Teams and Police Operatives from Agbarho Division to proceed to the said town with a view to ensuring that sanity is restored in the Community.
Consequently, the DPO Agbarho Division led the teams deployed on an intelligence led operation during which eleven suspected cultists were arrested, two (2) Pump action guns, one (1) cut to size locally made gun, eight (8) expanded cartridges and ten rounds of live cartridges were recovered.
ARREST OF A MURDER SUSPECT, DRUG BARON/INDIAN HEMP DEALER AND CULTIST:
On 1/2/2022 at about 0900hrs, acting on intelligence, the Command Crack Surveillance team raided a black-spot in Okwuchi quarters Eku, during which one Larry Onifon ‘m’ age 24yrs was arrested. The Suspect who claimed to be a fashion designer was arrested in the drug Neighborhood and the following exhibits were recovered: Forty (40) packets of 100mg Tramadol, eighty-nine (89) wraps of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, four (4) sachets of Swinol, three (3) containers of Loud, fifty-five (55) wraps of substances suspected to be cocaine. The suspect Larry Onifon also stated that the cartel popularly called “OBJ cartel” is owned by one of the fleeing suspects named “OBJ”. Investigation is ongoing.
ARREST OF SUSPECTED KIDNAPPERS:
On the 22/01/2022 at about 2130hrs, a kidnapped victim (name withheld) of Uvwiana Road, Agbarha reported that he was kidnapped along Esiso Street Agbarho in Ughelli North LGA. The victim further stated that in the process of transferring him to another vehicle, he escaped from his abductors. Consequently, on the 23/01/2022 at about 0930hrs, the victim spotted one of the hoodlums and he immediately alerted the Command. Police Operatives were detailed to the area where the suspect named Godstime Rufus “M” age 22yrs of Esiso street Agbarho was arrested. Upon further interrogation and investigation, the suspect led operatives to their hideout where two other suspects namely, Stanley Efeme “M” age 21yrs of NEPA Line and Davidson Esiso “M” age 35yrs of no. 25 Osah Street Agbarho were arrested and they were all identified by the victim. Investigation is ongoin.
CP Delta Mohammed Ali Ari is assuring residents of adequate security, I wish to use this medium to solicit for continuous understanding, support, cooperation and collaboration with the State Government and Police Authorities in the fight against crime and criminality. Moreso, parents and guardians are urged to monitor, guide and caution their wards to desist from any cult related activities and the use or sale illicit of drugs, as the Command under my watch will not relent in arresting anyone found wanting and ensuring that they are prosecuted accordingly.
The Command is more than ever before determined to fulfil its core mandate which is to protect life and property, maintenance of law and order and as such will not take it lightly with anybody who tries to cause mayhem of any kind in the State.
