• Police invent master plan to guarantee peaceful celebrations
From Ben Dunno, Warri
Delta State Police Command has invented new policing strategies to fight crimes and criminality in ensuring peaceful yuletide celebrations. Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, had held series of conferences and lectures with his men and officers on how to combat the surge of crimes during this period and beyond.
The determination by the men and officers of the command to consolidate on their past achievements which was reaffirmed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, during his visit on Monday, November 18, 2024, had further boosted their morale to do more ahead of the Yuletide season.
Security watchers and stakeholders in the state were equally not left out in the efforts to have crime-fee celebrations. Warri Urban Security Network (WUSN) in a statement by Chief Frank Onoriode and Dafe Okpako, Chairman and Secretary respectively, recounted how based on intensive Intel gathering on a syndicate that specialised in kidnapping, armed robbery, car snatching and defrauding of suspecting victims bank accounts via SIM swap around Ughelli, Warri, Sapele, Oghara, Abraka and environs yielded result on November 18, 2024, when operatives of CP – Special Assignment Team (CP – SAT ) in Ughelli effected the arrest of a notorious gang member of the said syndicate (name withheld), Wellington Road, Mosogar, Ethiope East Local Government:
“Upon interrogation, he led operatives to their criminal hideout situated by ‘Small Pastor Area’, an out sketch of Mosogar where they usually keep victims and weapons. Upon search in the ceiling, srms and ammunition were recovered. The suspects are in custody and investigation is ongoing”
WUSN said a surveillance team from Ekpan Division along Effurun Round About on November 20, 2024, arrested one suspect with a black bag containing 57 live cartridges, upon which the surveillance team mobilized to their hide out following Eto’s confession at Coco Nut Village Along Warri/Sapele Road by Mercy City and arrested another suspect waiting to receive the consignment:
“Suspects led operatives to their forest main hideout behind 3 Battalion Barracks, Army Estate, Effurun, along Warri-Sapele Road being their main camp ‘Korodo’. However as other gang members waiting inside the forest camp sighted police vehicles they engaged police in a shoot-out. Some members of the gang escaped in the process.
“When a discreet search was conducted at the camp, one English Pump Action Gun, one locally made cut-to-size gun and eight live cartridges, six iPhones, some Smart phones and a Rolex Gold Wrist Watch were all recovered in a black bag.
“The two injured suspects during the cross fire were taken to the hospital where they died while receiving treatment. Manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.
“On November 24, 2024, operatives of CP-SAT in Ughelli metropolis arrested two suspects connected to series of kidnappings including the adoption of one man and a ransom of N5million collected.
“The team stormed their hideout along Otokutu Road, Iyede. The gang members upon sighting the operatives opened fire on the team. In the ensuing gun duel, two of the suspects sustained gunshot injuries. They later died in the hospital while receiving treatment.”
The South-South Professionals and Transparency Initiatives (SSPTI) national coordinator, Dr. Ugochukwu Alozie, said: “On November 13, 2024, operatives of CP – SAT commenced raided identified illicit drug houses starting with a hidden warehouse on Shell Road, Sapele. The house was busted and some suspects were arrested.
“Drugs recovered included multiple bottles of codeine, multiple sachets of tramadol, weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, multiple sachets of phenol drug named Canadian Loud and other prohibited drugs. Also recovered was a Toyota Camry with reg. Number KJA 996 BH used in distribution of the said drugs.
“On November 24, 2024, following the recent kidnap of two boys, operatives of Abraka Police Station alongside members of Nigeria hunters stormed Kokori-Samagidi bush in Ethiope East LG. The suspected kidnapers were overwhelmed. The victims were rescued unhurt and two AK-47 rifle was recovered. The Manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.
“On August 17, 2024, a lady reported that she entered a vehicle at Efurrun Roundabout but robbed by the driver and two others who pretended to be passengers. Three suspects were arrested in Abraka and Okuokoko in Okpe LG
“The preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects disguised as transporters and in some cases go to club and lure young girl promising them huge sum of money and eventually rob them in a lonely road. The suspects robbed one of their victims, transferred N750,000 from her bank account and collected her IPhone 15 pro max and IPhone 13 pro max. Suspects are in custody and investigation is ongoing.
“On November 27, 2024, at about 2145hrs, acting on a distress call from the command’s control room over a kidnap incident along DLA Road in Asaba, Commander, Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squad, CSP Labe Joseph, led operatives and embarked on an intelligence-led operation,.
“They trailed the suspected kidnappers to Ezenei by Asaba/Benin Expressway. the hoodlums who upon sighting the police team zoomed off and diverted to Oko Market Road, jumped out of their vehicles and fled into the nearby bush abandoning the cars.”
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bright Edafe, confirmed all arrests in a telephone chat with Daily Sun yesterday: “CP Olufemi Abaniwonda has assured residents that the command will go all out to ensure that the fleeing suspects are arrested and brought to book.”