The Delta State Police Command has arrested 16 suspects in separate operations across the state and recovered two firearms, a stolen Toyota Camry and quantities of suspected illicit drugs.
The command said the operations also disrupted a suspected cult gathering and foiled an alleged extortion attempt at a construction site.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, said eight suspects were arrested during a raid on a suspected cult gathering in Aragba-Orogun.
The operation was conducted by operatives of the Command Anti-Cult Unit in Ozoro following intelligence about a planned gathering.
The police subsequently searched the residence of one of the suspects and recovered a pump-action gun and a live cartridge.
In a separate incident, operatives of the Okpanam Division arrested 30-year-old Collins Dunkun over an alleged extortion attempt at a construction site on September 8.
According to the police, the suspects allegedly stormed the site, prevented workers from continuing their duties, seized their tools and demanded N700,000 before work could resume.
The command said six other suspects escaped from the scene, while a search of Dunkun led to the recovery of a locally made single-barrel pistol and a cartridge.
The police said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
Also on September 8, operatives of the Divisional Surveillance Team raided an uncompleted building in King Zanga, Ugbuegwai Community, Warri, following intelligence on suspected drug-related activities.
Five suspects were arrested during the operation, while substances suspected to be Indian hemp, Codeine, Colorado, Rizla, SK and Canadian Loud were recovered.
In another operation in Ekpan, the police arrested two suspects, identified as Destiny Suleman, 41, and Samuel Ejiro, 21, and recovered a stolen Toyota Camry.
The command said the brown Toyota Camry, with registration number BEN-572BT, was reportedly stolen in Benin City on September 7.
Following intelligence gathered during the investigation, operatives traced the vehicle to the New Era area of Jakpa Road, Ekpan, where they laid an ambush and arrested the two suspects.
The Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Samuel E. Erale, warned that the command would not tolerate criminal activities across the state.
Erale said, “Cultism, unlawful possession of firearms, extortion, illicit drug activities and other criminal acts will not be tolerated in the State.”
He added, “The command will continue to take proactive measures to prevent crime, dismantle criminal networks and bring offenders to justice.”
The suspects remain in police custody as investigations into the various cases continue.
