Police arrest four suspected robbers in Delta sting operation

Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested four suspected armed robbers alleged to have been terrorising residents of Ughelli and its environs.

The arrests followed a series of complaints from residents over the activities of a criminal syndicate known for attacking victims, inflicting injuries with cutlasses, and dispossessing them of their motorcycles.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the development in a statement made available to journalists in Warri on Monday.

Edafe said three of the suspects were initially apprehended with incriminating items recovered from them.

The statement partly read, “Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the CP Special Assignment Team between 6:30 am and 9:10 am on April 20, 2026, in collaboration with members of the Ughelli Kingdom Vigilantes, carried out coordinated operations at various locations within the Ughelli metropolis, leading to the arrest of the suspects.”

He identified the suspects as Surajo Atar (25) from Bigal Village in Gada Local Government Area of Sokoto State; Abba Musa (24) from Madara Village in Danbatta Local Government Area of Kano State; and Babangida Yusuf (25) from Hamdullahi Village in Albasu Local Government Area of Kano State.

“Items recovered from the suspects at the point of arrest include a cutlass and a black mask believed to have been used in perpetrating their criminal activities,” Edafe added.

The police spokesman further disclosed that during interrogation, the suspects led operatives to the Trailer Park area along Sapele Road in Warri, where a fourth suspect, Abdurasheed Shafiu (31), was arrested.

“The suspect, identified as a receiver of stolen motorcycles, has confessed to purchasing the items from the gang,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, assured the public that investigations were ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate and recover stolen property.

He reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, urging residents to provide timely and useful information to aid police operations.