Police raid hideout of ‘arms syndicate’ in Delta, arrest three

The Delta police command says its operatives have arrested suspected members of a syndicate of arms dealers in Boboroku community of the state.

Bright Edafe, Delta police spokesperson, announced the development in a statement on Saturday.

Edafe said the police operatives raided a hideout in the community on December 6, during which three people were arrested.

“On the 6/12/2022, an intelligence report revealed that a syndicate who unlawfully deals in sales of cartridges to cultists and armed robbers were hibernating in Boboroku community in Jesse where they carry out their nefarious activities,” the statement reads.

“Acting on this report, the Commissioner of Police Delta State Command, CP Ari Muhammed Ali FCIA, psc+, directed the Command’s raiders squad to carry out a sting operation on the said hideout.

“In compliance with this directive, the Commander Raider’s squad detailed operatives who stormed the hideout at Boboroku Jesse Ethiope-West LGA, and arrested one Victoria Willams and two (2) others, all from Boboroku community in Jesse, and one hundred and thirty (130) live cartridges were recovered.

“Investigation is ongoing.”

In another development, Edafe said, on December 6, the police received a distress call from a resident that three gunmen snatched a Lexus car from him at gunpoint around Ughelli axis in the state.

“The operatives immediately swung into action, trailed the hoodlums and their unrelenting effort paid off when the suspects, on noticing that the operatives were closing in on them, abandoned the car and escaped into the bush at Ewu near Otu-Jeremi, Ughelli South LGA,” he said.

“The vehicle was recovered, while manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.”

The police spokesperson also said two suspects were arrested along the Warri/Sapele road after a search of the car they were in, resulted in the discovery of arms.

A Beretta pistol and one locally-made revolver were reportedly recovered from the suspects, who were identified as Joshua Oweke and Nicolas Binakeyen.