The proactive and preventive approach of the Delta State Police Command to tackling crime in the state has continued to yield result as several suspects have been apprehended from different parts of the state in the past one week.
In a statement issued by the state police command’s PPRO, DSP Bright Edafe, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ari Muhammed Ali, reiterated the proactive and preventive policing strategy which the command is currently adopting.
He emphasized that: “Taking the battle to the den of criminals, arresting and prosecuting them will go a long way in deterring others who are thinking of going into crime.
“Stop and search, intensive patrol and continuous raid of black spots/criminal hideouts and intelligence gathering are part of the proactive policing that the CP has directed Area commanders, DPOS and tactical commanders to adopt.
“These proactive policing has continued to yield results as the Command has recorded yet another major success against crimes and criminality.”
Among the latest successes recorded by the state command in the past weeks was the arrest, on November 20, of an armed robbery suspect who was a member of a gang of three that had already found their way into the premises of a resident of Ozoro, (name withheld).
According to the release, “On 20/11/2021 at about 0500 hrs, following a distress call that three suspected armed robbers were in the premises of one man (name withheld) along Ozoro/ Ughelli road, the DPO, Ozoro Division, CSP Ogedengbe Areguamen, led a combined team of Police/vigilante to the scene.
“The suspected armed robbers, on sighting the police team, took to their heels and the team gave them a hot chase during which one of the suspects named Emma Ighodalo ‘m’ of Irri village aged 28yrs was arrested with one live cartridge, while two members of his gang escaped.
“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed that he threw his gun away somewhere in the bush as he was running and that he bought the said gun from one Michael Enipozi for the sum of #30,000.
“The suspect led the Police to Irri village where the said Michael Enipozi ‘m’ of Irri in Isoko south LGA aged 77yrs was arrested. Three double barrel guns, two single barrel guns and other tools used in producing guns were recovered from him.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the 77yrs old suspect is a welder who produces guns for criminals and he admitted that he sold the gun to the suspect and that he has been in the business of producing guns for the past twenty years. Manhunt for the other two fleeing suspects is ongoing.”
Another recent breakthrough of the Command was the arrest, on “19/11/21 about 1630hrs, of one Solomon Udanya ‘m’ aged 65yrs by operatives attached to the command’s crack squad. In total compliance with the directive of the Delta State Commissioner of Police on continuous raiding of black spots/criminal hideouts, acted on intelligence gathered over a period of time and raided a criminal hideout at Emevor Community in Isoko North LGA and apprehended the suspect.”
According to the release, exhibits recovered from the suspect include: “One hundred and thirty rounds of live cartridges, one single barrel long gun, three packets of tramadol, six bottles of codeine and various contraband drugs.” Investigation is ongoing, it stated.
Also within the past one week, precisely on “17/11/21, at about 1700hrs, Eagle Net patrol team, while on a stop and search duty along Bomadi-Ohoror road, intercepted a Daylong unregistered motorcycle with three occupants namely Promise Jonah 27yrs, “m”. of Mbiama in Ahoada West LGA River State, Friday Frank 29yrs, “m”, of Esampou Community in Ekeremor LGA in Bayelsa but resides in Bomadi, and Bekus Ayibe, “m”, of Ekeremor LGA of Bayelsa State…
“Upon a painstaking search on the suspects, one locally made pistol and two cartridges were recovered from Promise Jonah. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, Promise Jonah, contacted the other two suspects and told them he had a gun and that they should look for a motorcycle to steal.
“The suspect, Friday Frank, who resides in Bomadi boarded a bike and took the unsuspecting bike man to GRA water side in Bomadi where the other two suspects came out with the gun and threatened the bike man who submitted the keys and fled.
“Luck ran out on them when the Police team intercepted them. The victim has identified all suspects as those who robbed him of his motorcycle. Suspects are currently in custody while investigation is ongoing,” the release stated.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner “has assured members of the public, particularly residents of the state, that the command will continue to do its best to see that the state is free from crimes and criminality just as he urged them to continue to partner with the Police by giving useful, credible and timely information for effective policing.”
