Delta Police Arrest Five Suspects in Crime Operations

The Delta State Police have arrested five suspects and seized four locally made guns, three vehicles, three motorcycles, and other items believed to be stolen in different operations around the state.

These operations took place on September 19, 2026, in Orerokpe, Ekpan, and Agbor. The police also found a live cartridge, 22 air-conditioners, 13 washing machines, 29 motorcycle and tricycle engines, musical equipment, TV sets, a generator, a laptop, and many other suspected stolen items.

Bright Edafe, the command’s Public Relations Officer, shared this information in a statement on Tuesday.

Edafe explained that officers from the Orerokpe Division, along with members of the Civilian Anti-Cult group in Osubi, stopped two Toyota Sienna vehicles filled with musical equipment on the Warri-Sapele Road. The people inside ran away when they saw the police. However, one man, 45-year-old Lawrence Onowenakpo, was caught.

"A search of the vehicles led to the recovery of three locally made single-barrelled guns and one live cartridge," the statement noted.

According to Edafe, during questioning, Onowenakpo named Ajeh Zephaniah, also known as Fanta, as the gang leader. He added that Zephaniah had been arrested before for armed robbery but was released on bail for health reasons.

Further investigation took the team to a scrap yard in Warri, which is believed to be where the gang operates. There, the police found three motorcycles, 22 air-conditioners, 13 washing machines, 29 motorcycle and tricycle engines, musical equipment, TV sets, a generator, a laptop, and other suspected stolen items.

"Preliminary investigation links the gang to recent armed robberies in the Kwale and Warri areas," Edafe said. He mentioned that the police are still working to catch Zephaniah and other gang members who are still free.

In a different operation in Ekpan, Edafe reported that officers responded to a distress call around 6:40 PM that day about a man allegedly threatening people near the Scrap Yard area of Effurun-Sapele Road.

The police arrested 23-year-old Meshach Onovoisa and found a locally made single-barrelled gun with him. "During preliminary investigation, the suspect allegedly admitted that he is an armed robber," the statement added.

Edafe also noted that officers from the Agbor Division, acting on reliable information, arrested three men: Agbaja Promise, 20; Emmanuel Ovieh, 25; and Odiri Dama, 25, all from Benin City, Edo State. They were caught while trying to sell a Hijet minibus with registration number BEN-485-XH for N300,000 without proof of ownership.

The vehicle was taken back, and its rightful owner was later found and notified. Edafe said the Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale, praised the officers and the public for their cooperation during the operations.

He added that the CP promised to continue breaking down criminal networks in the state and encouraged residents to keep giving the police useful and timely information.