The Delta State Police Commissioner, CP Wale Abass, has called on the criminals in the State to put an end to their evil deeds and choose legal livelihoods or accept responsibility for their own actions.
This was said by CP Wale Abass on Wednesday in Asaba, during a press briefing where he paraded many suspected criminals and displayed weapons and ammunition seized from them between the month of June and the present.
According to the CP, an unregistered Mercedes Benz Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) which was reportedly stolen from a car stand in Abuja has been recovered in the Ughelli area of Delta State.
Abass said his men acted on a complaint from the Abuja-based dealer whose identity he did not disclose.
He said armed with available intelligence, operatives of the CP-Decoy Squad stormed Ughelli town in the wee hours of July 3 “and recovered the said Mercedes Benz SUV abandoned in a bush along Oteri road by Doctors Quarters Ughelli North Local Government Area.”
He said a serious manhunt for the suspect is ongoing.
Abass who paraded suspects for various crimes including murder, trafficking, fraud, robbery, and kidnapping, assured residents of adequate security.
He vowed that the command will not renege on its commitment to ensuring that residents sleep with both eyes and that the state is safe for businesses to thrive.
“I wish to use this medium to solicit their continuous understanding and support, especially in the area of information.
“Residents are also urged to monitor their environment and report any suspicious persons or movement to the police,” he said.
According to him, five AK-47, five pump action guns, 24 locally made guns, 489 ammunition, 469 cartridges, and eight stolen vehicles were recovered since last month.
CP Abass further disclosed that on June 30, 2023, the DPO Ekpan Police station received a complaint that two young ladies (name withheld) have not been seen since they went to a church named fire gospel mission located at No. 1 Tare Alegbo Street, Effurun, Ovwie LGA for a church program.
“The DPO swung into action and arrested the suspect who claimed to be a pastor name Marvelous Ebangwe ‘m’ age 42 years. Investigation revealed that the suspect specializes in trafficking young girls to African countries.
The suspect stated that the victims are presently in Senegal. The investigation is ongoing.”
He said that on July 4, 2023, at about 0800hours, operatives attached to Safer Highway, while on stop and search duty along Summit Road, Asaba, received a distress call from a female victim (name withheld) that some suspected fraudster collected her phone and ATM card along the expressway by Kia motors and dropped her off along DLA road but fortunately, their vehicle entered a ditch while trying to escape.
“The police swiftly mobilized to the scene and arrested the two suspects.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the two suspects are members of a syndicate that lures unsuspecting victims into their vehicle in the guise of looking for direction, then hypnotize them, collects their phones, and ATM cards, and empty their bank accounts.
“Suspects are in custody and investigation is ongoing.”
Also, he said that on June 26, at about 10.20 pm, Police operatives attached to Ufoma division while on night patrol at Ekrejebor in Ughelli North LGA, acting on a tip-off, intercepted two young men. He said that when they were searched, one English pistol was recovered.
“The suspects namely; Ejiro Praise ‘m’ age 29yrs and Eshare Ovuovwuro ‘m’ age 21yrs were arrested. Suspects are in custody and investigation ongoing.”
Also, on July 3, 2023, at about 1334hours, he said policemen attached to Safer Highway, “while on stop and search duty along Warri-Sapele Road, intercepted a commercial vehicle and conducted search on all the occupants, during which three locally made pistols concealed in a bag were recovered from two of the passengers. “They were immediately taken into custody and the investigation is ongoing.
“On June 16, 2023, at about 1700hours, the DPO Ovwian Aladja division received a report on the murder of one Felicia Catibekpe, female, aged 45-year, who was allegedly murdered by her estranged lover, one Augustine Gola Ejowor, a 50-yr-old man of Okolor Inland in UDU LGA, who escaped after the act.
“On receipt of this complaint, the DPO detailed operatives to embark on a discreet investigation.
“The suspect was eventually arrested on June 21, 2023, when he reported himself at Ovwian Aladja Police station.
“Suspect stated that he murdered the woman during the course of a disagreement using a machete. The suspect is in custody and the investigation is ongoing.”
