The Delta State Police Command has made significant arrests and recoveries in a series of operations conducted across the state on September 19, 2026. According to the command's Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, five suspects were arrested, and various items suspected to have been stolen were recovered. The operations took place in Orerokpe, Ekpan, and Agbor, showcasing the police's efforts to curb criminal activities in the region.
In one of the operations, operatives of the Orerokpe Division, working with members of the Civilian Anti-Cult group in Osubi, intercepted two Toyota Sienna vehicles loaded with musical equipment along the Warri-Sapele Road. The occupants fled upon sighting the police, but one of them, 45-year-old Lawrence Onowenakpo, was apprehended. A search of the vehicles led to the recovery of three locally made single-barrelled long guns and one live cartridge.
Preliminary interrogation of Onowenakpo allegedly identified Ajeh Zephaniah, aka Fanta, as the gang leader. Zephaniah had previously been arrested and arraigned for armed robbery before being granted bail on health grounds. Further investigation led the joint team to a scrap yard in Warri, suspected to be the gang's operational base, where various stolen items were recovered, including 22 air-conditioners, 13 washing machines, and musical equipment.
The recovered items are believed to be linked to recent armed robberies within the Kwale and Warri axes. The police stated that efforts are ongoing to arrest Zephaniah and other members of the group who remain at large. The operations demonstrate the police's commitment to tackling crime in the region.
In a separate operation in Ekpan, operatives responded to a distress call over a man allegedly threatening people around the Scrap Yard axis of the Effurun-Sapele Road. The operatives arrested 23-year-old Meshach Onovoisa and recovered a locally made single-barrelled gun from him. During preliminary investigation, Onovoisa allegedly admitted to being an armed robber.
The Agbor Division also conducted an operation, arresting three men identified as Agbaja Promise, 20; Emmanuel Ovieh, 25; and Odiri Dama, 25, all from Benin City, Edo State. The suspects were allegedly caught while attempting to dispose of a Hijet minibus with registration number BEN-485-XH for N300,000 without producing documents for the vehicle. The vehicle was recovered, and its rightful owner was subsequently identified and contacted.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale, commended the operatives and members of the public whose cooperation contributed to the operations. He reiterated the command's resolve to dismantle criminal networks across the state and urged residents to continue providing the police with credible and timely information.
Key points
- The Delta State Police Command arrested five suspects and recovered several stolen items in separate operations across the state.
- The operations resulted in the recovery of four locally made guns, three vehicles, and various stolen items.
- The police are working to arrest the gang leader, Ajeh Zephaniah, and other members who remain at large.
