Police recover cache of arms, ammunition, cartridges in Delta

By Peters Monday

Delta State Police command under the leadership of CP Olufemi Abaniwonda has recovered THREE AK-47 RIFLES, SEVEN PUMP ACTION GUNS, THREE THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION, ONE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED ROUNDS OF CARTRIDGES DURING STOP AND SEARCH in various operations in the state.

This success was made with the command’s moves to started the year 2025 with the determination to flush out all criminal elements in the state, the CP also mandated all tactical commanders, Area commanders, DPO’s to up their game and ensure that they make the area of responsibilities uninhabitable for criminals.

In a statement by the state command spokesman SP Bright Edafe enumerated the various operations in which arms and ammunition were seized.

“1. ARREST OF A SUSPECTED GUN RUNNER AND RECOVERY OF THREE (3) AK-47 RIFLES THREE THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY (3,120) ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION: On 3/03/2025 at about 1200hrs operatives of the command attached to Dragon 14 while on stop and search duty along Warri/Benin road by Western Delta University Oghara intercepted a blue colour Toyota Camry with Reg No PHC 257 NT driven by one Peter James (m) aged 55yrs indigene of Uyo Akwa Ibom State. The driver was asked to open the trunk of the vehicle, during which it was observed that the trunk of the said Camry popularly known as “big daddy” was unusually small, this aroused the suspicion of the men who were convinced that the vehicle has been modified for malicious purpose, the Policemen then proceeded and removed the seat of the vehicle, only to discover three (3) AK-47 rifles, Two Thousand and Eighty (2,080) rounds of 7. 62 mm AK-47 ammunition, one thousand and forty (1,040) rounds of 51mm ammunition loaded in four boxes. The exhibit has been recovered, the suspect is in custody and investigation is ongoing.

“2. ARREST OF ANOTHER SUSPECTED GUN RUNNER, RECOVERY OF SEVEN (7) PUMP ACTION GUNS AND ONE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED (1,600) ROUNDS OF LIVE CARTRIDGES: On 06/03/2025 at about 1100hrs the command’s operatives attached to Dragon Patrol Team 02 while on stop and search duty along Asaba/Benin expressway by National Open University Onicha-Ugbo, intercepted a Navy Blue Sharon space bus with registration number DKA 408 LM driven by one Yahuza Magaji (m) aged 69 yrs old in company of one Abba Sani (m) aged 17 yrs old both of Lere LGA in Kaduna State. They disguised as traders transporting Palm Oil and Garri, but the Police who insisted on a thorough search of the vehicle, recovered Seven (7) pump action guns five (5) cartons containing one thousand six hundred (1,600) rounds of live cartridges concealed under the back seat of the vehicle. Preliminary investigation revealed that suspects bought the arms from Onitsha and were transporting them toThe suspects are in custody and investigation is ongoing”.

CP Abaniwonda Olufemi commended and appreciated the effort, and determination of the men for going the extra mile to detect the hidden firearms in the vehicle, he also encouraged and urged other officers of the command to emulate same.