……… Recovers two AK-47 magazines, Fifty-Two Rounds of 7.62mm Live ammunition from stolen vehicles, Sixteen Vehicle Engines, Eight Gear Box, Batteries, and Vehicle Tyres
The Delta Police Operatives on Thursday, 15th June 2023, while acting on intelligence gathering arrested the duo of Phillip Ekugbe and Onome Erikefe both of Ekpan community, Effurun who specializes in snatching vehicles from Warri and environs, take them to Ughelli where they disassemble and sell the vehicles in parts.
According to a press release on Sunday, 18th June 2023 signed by the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, said that following a series of reported cases of vehicles being removed from parking areas in Asaba, Warri, Ughelli, and environs, the Commissioner of Police Delta state CP Wale Abass directed Area commanders and DPOS to nip this trend in the bud and also warned that if the trend continues, officers concerned will be severely sanctioned.
“Seventy-four vehicle tyres, sixteen vehicle engines, eight gearboxes, fifteen motor batteries, two (2) motorcycle engines and seven suspected stolen vehicles have so far been recovered. The vehicles include one Toyota Corolla with reg. no. AJ 638 EFR, Toyota Carina with reg. no. WW 748 SL, Toyota Corolla with reg. no. DU 60 LSR, Toyota Corolla with reg. no. WWR 799 AE, Toyota Corolla with reg. no. KSF 758 DC and one unregistered Nissan car, DSP Edafe said.
He also said that as a follow-up on the investigation of suspected kidnappers neutralized in Abraka where one AK-47 rifle was recovered. The DPO Abraka Division again led operatives to comb the surrounding bushes where some of the suspects escaped into. The team, upon a thorough search of the bush, recovered two AK-47 magazines, and fifty-two rounds of AK-47 ammunition. The investigation also revealed that one of the neutralized suspects poses as an internet fraudster (yahoo boy) and has been using the proceeds gotten from kidnapping to build a 15-room duplex around Orogun, Ughelli North LGA. An effort to arrest the other members of the gang is still ongoing.
In another development, the DPO GRA division received a distress call that on Wednesday, 30th May 2023, a man took his Benz GLK 350 to a car wash situated along Mariam Babangida Way for washing but when he returned, he was told that one of the attendants had stolen the car and escaped to an unknown destination.
“On receipt of this complaint, the DPO GRA CSP Spencer Tyozua detailed detectives to embark on an intelligence-led investigation which paid off as the suspect named Emmanuel Chidera aged 22yrs was arrested on Wednesday, 14th June 2023 around magistrate court area in Asaba.
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed that he had taken the car to Benin City in Edo state where he intends to sell the car. The vehicle has been recovered, and the effort to arrest his accomplices is ongoing.
All suspects are in custody, and investigation is ongoing.
CP Wale Abass who is pleased with the effort shown by DPOs and Area commanders of the Command, also admonished them to sustain the tempo while appealing to Deltans to trust the police and help with useful information at all times.
