The Delta State Police Command has recorded another major breakthrough in its sustained fight against arms trafficking and organized criminal networks operating within the state.
The latest success came after operatives of the Commissioner of Police Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) arrested three suspects — including a notorious arms peddler and a female courier — and recovered a large cache of ammunition.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, the operation was executed following credible intelligence received from the Force Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU), Abuja.
He said the CP-SAT, led by ASP Julius Robinson, first apprehended a female suspect identified as Jamila Abubakar at Conoil Filling Station, Warri–Patani Road, Effurun. The suspect was intercepted based on actionable intelligence linking her to the movement of illicit ammunition.
During a search conducted at the scene, the operatives discovered the sum of ₦550,000, neatly concealed beneath her bag. The money is suspected to be proceeds from illegal arms transactions, and her arrest provided a crucial lead for further investigation.
Building on the intelligence gathered from her confession, the police team immediately launched a follow-up operation, which led them to Niger-Cat area of Warri, where another key suspect, Ahmed Ibrahim, was apprehended.
The 31-year-old suspect, a resident of Ekpan in Uvwie Local Government Area, was arrested at about 7:25 a.m. on October 22, 2025, during a coordinated raid by the operatives.
A thorough search of the premises led to the discovery of a bag containing 115 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition, 220 rounds of SMG rifle ammunition, and 32 live cartridges, all carefully concealed for onward distribution to criminal groups.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Ahmed Ibrahim is a major supplier of arms and ammunition to bandit and kidnap syndicates operating in the northern region of the country. He had reportedly been under police surveillance for several months.
Further investigations also linked the suspect to the kidnap and subsequent murder of one Ms. Ogheneovo Onemu, who was abducted on May 17, 2024, at Ajaokuta Community in Ughelli North LGA. Despite a ransom payment of ₦4 million, the victim was allegedly killed by her captors.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, while reacting to the development, described the arrests as a major victory in the Command’s ongoing efforts to cut off the supply of arms to criminal gangs and restore peace across Delta State.
He noted that the successful operation was a product of effective intelligence sharing and the professionalism of the CP-SAT operatives who acted swiftly and decisively.
CP Abaniwonda reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to dismantling criminal syndicates, intercepting illegal arms movement, and bringing all perpetrators of violent crimes to justice.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements or persons to the nearest police station, assuring that every piece of credible information would be treated with utmost confidentiality.
The Commissioner further appealed for continued cooperation between the public and the police, emphasizing that the fight against crime is a shared responsibility that requires the active participation of all.
For timely reporting of crimes and emergencies, the Command released its control room contact numbers: 08036684974, 08114895600, and 08025666914.
SP Bright Edafe, who signed the statement, assured that all suspects are in custody, and investigations are ongoing to uncover other members of the syndicate and bring them to justice.
