Delta Police Dismantle Suspected Criminal Shrine, Seize Guns & Ammunition
By UCHE OGBODO
Intelligence Operations Yield Results
THE Delta State Police Command has stepped up operations against illegal firearms and suspected criminal networks, arresting two men and recovering weapons and ammunition in Ndokwa West and Obiaruku.
The operations were carried out by two specialised units of the command.
The Command Anti-Cult Unit (CACU) arrested Chukwuka Nzete, popularly known as “Ododo”, in Isupe Community, Ndokwa West Local Government Area.
Separately, the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) arrested 36-year-old Joel Iwomi in Obiaruku.
Police said both arrests followed intelligence gathered on suspected possession or involvement with illegal weapons.
Suspected Shrine Used for Criminal Fortification
According to the police, Nzete was suspected of involvement in the illegal sale and proliferation of firearms.
Investigators also alleged that he operated a shrine where suspected criminal elements were fortified.
Following an intelligence-led operation on 9 September, CACU operatives arrested him and searched his residence.
The search produced a pump-action gun, four dagger knives and a battle axe.
Officers also found pots containing substances suspected to be charms.
Police subsequently took Nzete into custody as investigators began probing the extent of his activities.
They are also examining whether he maintained links with other suspected criminal elements.
Obiaruku Raid Recovers Gun & Ammunition
Three days later, VCRU operatives carried out another operation in Obiaruku.
The unit acted on information that a resident possessed a firearm and ammunition.
Police identified the occupant as Joel Iwomi, 36, of Umuebu, Obiaruku.
Edafe said Iwomi resisted the officers’ attempt to enter the residence.
The operatives, however, gained access and searched the premises.
They recovered a pump-action gun and 18 live cartridges.
The officers arrested Iwomi and took him into custody.
Police said investigations into the case are continuing.
Weapons Remain a Major Security Concern
The recoveries underscore the security implications of illegal firearms circulating within communities.
Even when police recover weapons before they are used in a crime, the presence of such firearms and ammunition can increase the potential for violent incidents.
For that reason, the Delta Police Command has continued to rely on intelligence-led operations to identify individuals suspected of possessing or supplying illegal weapons.
The latest operations also demonstrate the role of specialised units in tackling different aspects of criminal activity.
CACU focuses on cult-related activities, while VCRU responds to violent-crime threats and intelligence.
Police Seek Community Support
The Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel E. Erale, said the command would continue working to deny criminal elements access to illicit firearms and other weapons.
He urged residents to remain alert and report suspicious persons, illegal firearms and other criminal activities to the police.
Erale assured members of the public that credible information would receive the necessary confidentiality.
The appeal is aimed at strengthening cooperation between security agencies and communities, particularly in identifying illegal weapons before they are used to threaten lives and property.
Investigations Continue
The police have not yet established publicly whether the two suspects are connected or whether the recovered weapons have links to previous crimes.
Investigators are expected to determine how the firearms and ammunition came into the suspects’ possession and whether other individuals are involved.
The command said investigations into both cases remain ongoing.
The arrests and weapons recoveries therefore mark another phase in Delta’s effort to disrupt the supply of illicit firearms and contain criminal activity across the state.
