…CP Abaniwonda Reaffirms Commitment to Safer Delta
The Delta State Police Command has recorded significant breakthroughs in the fight against crime across the state, leading to the arrest of over 95 suspects, recovery of 16 firearms, 94 rounds of ammunition, and a truckload of illicit drugs in the month of September 2025 to date.
Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda S. Olufemi, psc, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Asaba, where he outlined key achievements made through intelligence-led operations, strategic deployments, and inter-agency collaboration.
According to the CP, operatives across the state have intensified efforts to rid Delta of kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, and drug trafficking. “The Command remains committed to sustaining peace and security in all parts of Delta State. Our operations are intelligence-driven, community-oriented, and strategically coordinated to ensure that criminals have no hiding place,” he said.
Highlighting major cases, CP Abaniwonda revealed that operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) neutralized suspected kidnappers responsible for a series of abductions around the Upper-Agbarho axis of Ughelli. During the encounter, one AK-47 rifle, two magazines, forty-three rounds of live ammunition, one pump-action gun, and a locally made pistol were recovered, while some suspects died from gunshot injuries sustained during a gun duel with the police.
In another major breakthrough, the Command’s Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime Squad rescued a kidnap victim from Ogwashi-Uku after the suspects collected ₦2 million ransom and shot him in the leg. Three suspects were arrested across Anambra and Enugu States, and the victim’s white Venza SUV, operational vehicle, and a network jammer were recovered.
The CP also confirmed the neutralization of two suspected kidnappers by a joint team of Delta Police and Operation Delta Sweep in Boji Boji Owa, with one AK-47 rifle and forty rounds of live ammunition recovered.
Similarly, the Command arrested two armed robbers who specialised in vandalising churches in Ogwashi-Uku, recovering four locally made guns, a pump-action rifle, and stolen church equipment worth millions of naira. This success, according to the CP, followed his directive for strategic deployment of officers to protect churches across the state.
Other notable achievements include the arrest of suspected cultists, drug dealers, and armed robbers across Asaba, Ibusa, Jesse, and Ogwashi-Uku. Recovered exhibits include Beretta pistols, English pistols, locally made firearms, live cartridges, and illicit drugs.
In one of the operations, police operatives also rescued a teenage girl abducted from Niger State and held in Delta by a suspect identified as Bila Halili. The victim has since been reunited with her family.
Summarizing the Command’s September achievements, CP Abaniwonda disclosed that:
- 16 firearms were recovered,
- 94 ammunition and cartridges seized,
- One truckload of illicit drugs impounded, and
- 95 suspects arrested for various crimes.
The Commissioner commended officers for their resilience and collaboration with local vigilantes and sister security agencies. He also thanked residents for their growing trust and cooperation with the Command.
He urged Deltans to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements or persons through the Command’s control room number: 08036684974.
“Let me assure the good people of Delta that the Police under my watch will not relent until all criminal elements are flushed out. Our ultimate goal is to make Delta State unsafe for crime and safe for all law-abiding citizens,” CP Abaniwonda stated.