Outrage follows detention of 270 alleged offenders in Delta

Controversy surrounds the arrest of 270 suspects by the Delta State Police Command in Warri, Ughelli, and Uvwie local government areas, which took place on Wednesday and Thursday of last week, with many of those detained denying allegations of being cultists and illicit drug peddlers.

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Children and relatives of some of the arrested individuals appeared in a video outside a police station, maintaining that their family members were innocent of the charges brought against them.

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Activist Mr Israel Joe has questioned the police's decision not to arraign the suspects in court, particularly those taken into custody on Wednesday, which he claims is a violation of their rights.

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Mr Joe also alleged that one of the arrested suspects has since passed away, a claim that has sparked further debate about the incident.

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The state Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the arrests in a press statement, stating that the operation was aimed at eliminating criminal elements from the area.

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According to Edafe, the arrest was led by Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who targeted known criminal hotspots in the region.

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Edafe dismissed Mr Joe's allegation that one of the suspects died in custody, denying any truth to the claim.

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The police operation, which involved the Buffalo Operational Team and other tactical units, resulted in the arrest of 59 suspects, comprising 51 males and 8 females, at various identified criminal hideouts, including a notorious bush bar.

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A subsequent raid on March 26, 2026, led by DCP Adejobi, targeted Ughelli town, with a team of operatives from the Crack Squad, Rapid Response Squad, and Buffalo Squad, resulting in the arrest of 213 suspects.