Delta police arrest two, recover two pump-action guns, 18 cartridges

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The Delta State Police Command has arrested two suspects and recovered two pump-action guns, 18 live cartridges, four daggers, a battle axe and other dangerous items in separate intelligence-led operations in the state.

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The operations were carried out by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit and the Command Anti-Cult Unit in Obiaruku and Isupe Community in Ndokwa West Local Government Area.

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The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by its Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, in Asaba.

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According to the statement, operatives of the VCRU, acting on credible intelligence, stormed a residence in Obiaruku on September 12, 2026, following information that the occupant was in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

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The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Joel Iwomi, allegedly resisted the operatives’ attempt to gain access to the residence before they eventually entered and conducted a search.

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The statement partly read, “The suspect, Joel Iwomi ‘m’, 36 years, of Umuebu, Obiaruku, resisted the operatives’ attempt to gain access to the premises. The operatives, however, successfully gained entry and conducted a search, during which one pump-action gun and eighteen (18) live cartridges were recovered. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody. Investigation is ongoing.”

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In a separate operation conducted on September 9, 2026, operatives of the CACU arrested another suspect, Chukwuka Nzete, also known as “Ododo”, in Isupe Community, Ndokwa West Local Government Area. The police said Nzete was suspected of involvement in the illegal sale and proliferation of firearms and allegedly operated a shrine where suspected criminal elements were fortified.

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“The suspect was suspected of involvement in the illegal sale and proliferation of firearms and allegedly operated a shrine where suspected criminal elements were fortified,” the statement read.

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A search of his residence reportedly led to the recovery of another pump-action gun, four dagger knives, a battle axe and pots containing substances suspected to be charms. The command said the suspect was taken into custody, while investigation was ongoing to determine the extent of his activities and possible links with other criminal elements.

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The statement continued, “A search of the suspect’s residence led to the recovery of one pump-action gun, four dagger knives, one battle axe and pots containing substances suspected to be charms.

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“The suspect was taken into custody, while investigation is ongoing to unravel the full extent of his activities and possible links with other criminal elements.”

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The two operations bring the number of pump-action guns recovered by the command in the reported operations to two, alongside ammunition and other items allegedly linked to violent or criminal activities.

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Reacting to the arrests and recoveries, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel Erale, reaffirmed the command’s resolve to prevent criminal elements from gaining access to illicit firearms and other weapons capable of threatening public safety.

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The CP further called on residents to remain vigilant and promptly provide credible information on suspicious persons, illegal firearms and criminal activities within their communities.

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The statement added, “The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel E. Erale, psc, mnips, reaffirmed the command’s resolve to deny criminal elements access to illicit firearms and other weapons capable of threatening public safety.”

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The commissioner also assured residents that actionable information provided to the police would be treated confidentially.

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The command said investigation into both cases was ongoing.

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