By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
Criminals in.Delta State have yet suffered another defeat, losing no fewer than seven firearms and seven live ammunition to police operatives in the state.
Four out of the firearms, which include one AK-47 rifle, a pump action gun, two locally made cut-to-zize guns and seven rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were recovered from suspected hoodlums, while the others were from suspected cultists.
The Delta State Police Command Spokesperson DSP Bright Edafe, who made the disclosure in a statement on Monday, said the weapons were recovered from three different operations in the state.
While giving the breakdown, he said, “: On Wednesday, August 16th, 2023, at about 4.00pm, based on credible intelligence gathered over the activities of some criminal elements operating within Warri, Udu, Koko and proximate environs, the DPO Ekpan Division, CSP Aliyu Shaba, led the Surveillance Team and trailed the hoodlums to their hideout located at Aladja Grammar School in Aladja Town Udu Local Government.
” However, upon sighting the police, the hoodlums took to their heels; a search was conducted immediately around the uncompleted building and a sack bag was found. Upon searching the sack bag, the following items were recovered: one AK47 Rifle, one magazine loaded with seven (7) rounds of 7.62mm Ammunitions, one English pump action gun with three (3) live cartridges, and two cut-to-size Double Barrel Gun. Efforts are on top gear to identify and arrest the said hoodlums.
” In a similar occurrence, on the 20th of August, 2023 at approximately 3: 09pm. the DPO Ekpan received a phone call from one Alhaji (name withheld) of Warri Sapele Road. It was revealed that some group of persons were sighted suspiciously within the yard.
” However, the civilian security/operatives in the yard flashed their torchlight on the suspected criminals who immediately fled and abandoned a sack. Upon close look into the sack, two locally made single barrel guns, all detachable with 18 live cartridges. The DPO detailed the men of the division to the scene, where firearms and ammunition were recovered and registered as exhibits. Efforts are on to trace and identify the hoodlums who are still at large.
” On 26/8/2023, at about 6: 00am, a police patrol team attached to ‘C’ division Asaba in a combined effort with vigilantes while on patrol around second Niger bridge sighted a young man carrying a sack bag, the suspect on noticing the police took to flight leaving behind the sack bag. When the bag was searched, one AK-47 rifle was recovered and effort to arrest the fleeing suspect is ongoing.
” In an earlier development, on 20/8/2023, operatives of the Command De-coy squad acting on credible intelligence gathered on the activities of one Godfrey Tietie, a notorious cultist who has been terrorizing Oghara and environs, the operatives stormed his premises in a covert operation and arrested the said Godfrey Tietie a.k.a “Don Baby” of Oghara Town in Ethiope West LGA Delta State. The 40-year-old male suspect was arrested at Ogorode Road by Texaco in Sapele and upon search, a locally made revolver pistol was recovered from him.
” Investigation revealed that the suspect is a member of Aiye confraternity and is also suspected to be a gun runner who supplies guns to cultists in Sapele, Oghara, and environs. Investigation is ongoing.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police Delta State, CP Wale Abass has urged members of the public particularly parents and guardians to pay close attention to their wards and discourage them from engaging in cultism and other vices.
Stressing that crime does not pay Abass vowed that the command will do all it takes to ensure that crime does not thrive in the State.
The Commissioner of Police also appealed to members of the public to help the police with any useful, timely, and credible information that will help the command eradicate crime in the state.
