The Delta State Police Command has made significant strides in security over the past year, arresting over 627 criminal suspects and recovering 144 firearms, which include 27 AK-47 and AK-49 rifles. 

These achievements were announced on Monday by Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Asaba.

According to the police commissioner, the arrests took place between January 2025 and the present as part of sustained intelligence-led operations aimed at reducing crime and protecting lives and property across the state. The recovered weapons also consisted of 25 Beretta pistols, 56 single-barreled and locally fabricated cut-to-size guns, and 6,930 rounds of ammunition and cartridges, significantly diminishing the operational capacity of criminal networks.

Olufemi noted that the arrested individuals include 140 suspected armed robbers, 113 suspected kidnappers, 125 murder suspects, 187 suspected cultists, and 62 suspects linked to rape and defilement cases. He further revealed that the command recovered approximately N36 million in ransom paid by victims of kidnapping during this period. He credited these successes to a proactive, intelligence-driven, and community-centered policing strategy, which has been supported by collaborations with sister security agencies, vigilante groups, traditional rulers, and civil society organizations.

The commissioner also announced that prime suspects connected to the murder of retired Justice Ifeoma Okogwu have been apprehended. A security guard assigned to the late jurist’s residence, Godwin Mngumi, was arrested on December 6, 2025, after being found in possession of one of the victim’s mobile phones. During questioning, the suspect reportedly confessed and implicated an accomplice, Nnaji Obalum. Investigations are ongoing to locate a third suspect who remains at large.

Reaffirming the command’s commitment to public safety, Olufemi stated that the Delta State Police Command will continue to intensify operations against armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, and other violent crimes. He urged residents to support the police by providing timely and credible information, assuring them that the command is dedicated to maintaining peace and security throughout the state.