By GEORGETTE CHIDI

Delta Police Arrest Suspect Over ₦700,000 Extortion at Okpanam Construction Site

THE Delta State Police Command has intensified its crackdown on extortion, cultism, illegal firearms, illicit drugs and other criminal activities across the state.

In one of the latest operations, police arrested a 30-year-old man, Collins Dunkwu, after he allegedly invaded a construction site in Okpanam with six others and demanded ₦700,000 from workers.

The incident occurred on 8 September 2026.

Construction Workers Targeted

According to the Command’s spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, the suspects allegedly disrupted work at the construction site.

They reportedly stopped the workers and seized their working tools.

The group allegedly demanded ₦700,000 before allowing the workers to resume their activities.

Police officers from the Okpanam Division responded after receiving the report. They moved to the site and arrested Dunkwu.

The other six suspects reportedly fled before the police arrived.

A search of the arrested suspect produced a locally made single-barrel pistol and one cartridge.

The police said they have launched efforts to track down the remaining suspects.

Cult Gathering Disrupted

In a separate operation, operatives of the Anti-Cult Unit in Ozoro disrupted a proposed cult gathering at Aragba-Orogun.

The operation followed what the Command described as credible intelligence.

Eight suspects were arrested during the raid.

They were identified as Godspower Achubue, 27; Ziden Edem, 27; Kingsley Aniefem, 36; Omita John, 22; Onumu Happy, 22; Kenneth Ukpurakpo, 22; Juliet Festus, 26; and Oghenegueke Okuanah, 22.

Police later extended their investigation to the residence of one of the suspects.

Officers executed a search warrant at the residence and recovered a pump-action gun and one live cartridge.

The arrests add to the Command’s efforts to prevent cult-related gatherings and disrupt networks linked to violent criminal activities.

Police Raid Suspected Drug Base

The Command also carried out an operation in the King Zanga area of Ugbuegwai community, Warri.

The Divisional Surveillance Team acted on intelligence concerning suspected illicit drug activities at an uncompleted building.

Five suspects were arrested.

They were identified as Rabi’u Salihu, 26; Salisu Suleiman, 23; Rabilu Ali, 24; Alhassan Mohd Mansur, 28; and Aliyu Abubakar, 25.

Police recovered quantities of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, Codeine, Colorado, Rizla, SK and Canadian Loud.

The suspects remain in custody as investigators work to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged activities.

Stolen Toyota Camry Recovered

The Command also recovered a Toyota Camry reported stolen in Benin City.

The Ekpan Division received a report on September 8 concerning the vehicle, which had allegedly been stolen a day earlier.

Acting on intelligence, police investigators traced the brown Camry to the New Era area of Jakpa Road, Ekpan.

Officers moved to the location and laid an ambush.

The operation resulted in the arrest of Destiny Suleman, 41, and Samuel Ejiro, 21.

Police recovered the vehicle and took both suspects into custody.

Investigation into the alleged theft continues.

Police Warn Criminal Groups

Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Samuel E. Erale, warned that the Command would not tolerate cultism, extortion, illegal possession of firearms, illicit drug activities or other criminal conduct.

He assured residents that the police would continue to adopt proactive measures to prevent crime.

The Commissioner also pledged continued efforts to dismantle criminal networks and bring suspects before the appropriate authorities.

The latest operations underline the Command’s strategy of combining intelligence gathering, rapid response and targeted raids.

However, the effectiveness of the crackdown will ultimately depend on the police’s ability to sustain investigations, prosecute suspects where evidence supports charges and prevent criminal networks from regrouping.