The Delta State Police Command says it has arrested 16 suspects and recovered firearms, a stolen Toyota Camry and quantities of suspected illicit drugs in separate operations across the state.
The Command, in a statement signed by its Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, said eight suspects were arrested during a raid on a suspected cult gathering in Aragba-Orogun.
The operation, carried out by operatives of the Command Anti-Cult Unit, Ozoro, followed intelligence about a planned cult meeting. A subsequent search of one suspect’s residence led to the recovery of a pump-action gun and one live cartridge.
In a separate operation on September 8, 2026, police responded to an alleged extortion incident at a construction site in Okpanam, where suspects were accused of stopping workers, seizing their tools and demanding ₦700,000 before allowing work to continue.
One suspect, identified as Collins Dunkun, 30, was arrested, while six others reportedly fled. Police recovered a locally made single-barrel pistol and one cartridge from the suspect.
Also on September 8, operatives of the Divisional Surveillance Team raided an uncompleted building at King Zanga, Ugbuegwai Community, Warri, following intelligence on suspected illicit drug activities.
Five suspects — Rabi’u Salihu, 26; Salisu Suleiman, 23; Rabilu Ali, 24; Alhassan Mohd Mansur, 28; and Aliyu Abubakar, 25 — were arrested.
Police said quantities of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, Codeine, Colorado, Rizla, SK and Canadian Loud were recovered during the operation.
Meanwhile, two suspects, Destiny Suleman, 41, and Samuel Ejiro, 21, were arrested in Ekpan following the recovery of a brown Toyota Camry Pencil Light, with registration number BEN-572BT, reported stolen in Benin City on September 7.
According to the police, intelligence-led investigation led operatives to New Era area of Jakpa Road, Ekpan, where they laid an ambush and arrested the two suspects as the vehicle was recovered.
The suspects are currently in police custody as investigations continue, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects.
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel E. Erale, warned that cultism, illegal possession of firearms, extortion, illicit drug activities and other criminal acts would not be tolerated in the state.
He assured residents that the command would continue to adopt proactive measures to prevent crime, dismantle criminal networks and ensure that offenders face justice.
