Delta Police Neutralizes Notorious Armed Robbery Syndicate, Arrests Suspect in Agbarho

By Diafa Doubra, Warri.

The Delta State Police Command has recorded a major breakthrough in its ongoing fight against violent crime, successfully neutralizing a notorious armed robbery and murder syndicate while arresting a separate armed robbery suspect in Agbarho. Under the leadership of Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, coordinated operations conducted on 18th and 19th November led to multiple arrests, the recovery of firearms, and the seizure of stolen property.

In Ughelli, operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) stormed a criminal hideout at Panama Layout, identified as the base of a violent syndicate responsible for robbery, murder, and sexual assault in Ughelli North LGA. Four suspects, including gang leader Peter Ejenekevwe, aka “Calamity,” were arrested. During interrogations, the suspects confessed to the November 11th murder of Anthony Igoroko Omowho and the robbery of a POS operator and her family, which involved the assault and rape of a young woman. Following further pursuit into the bush, police recovered three locally made short guns, two long guns, 23 live cartridges, and two Lexus 350 Jeep keys, resulting in the recovery of a stolen vehicle. During a clash with fleeing gang members, the suspects sustained fatal gunshot wounds and were confirmed dead at General Hospital, Ughelli. One police officer was injured and is receiving treatment.

Meanwhile, in Agbarho, police arrested 19-year-old Victor Peculiar, a suspected armed robber, following a home invasion in Uvwiama New Layout. The suspects had forcefully broken into a residence and fired shots after the homeowner attempted to defend himself with a machete. Operatives, working in collaboration with the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, successfully apprehended Peculiar and recovered a locally fabricated double-barrelled short gun. The suspect remains in custody and has provided valuable statements to investigators.

CP Olufemi Abaniwonda praised the operations as a testament to the Command’s strengthened operational capacity and zero-tolerance stance against violent criminal activities. He called on residents to continue providing credible intelligence to the police while assuring them that all reports would be handled with the strictest confidentiality.

SP Bright Edafe, Police Public Relations Officer for Delta State, confirmed that investigations into both cases are ongoing.