(DDM) – Security operations across Delta State have intensified, resulting in the arrest of suspected kidnappers, armed robbers, and cultists, alongside the death of multiple members of a violent armed robbery, murder, and rape syndicate.
The latest clampdown, according to DDM findings, reflects Delta State’s increased emphasis on coordinated intelligence-driven policing amid a rising wave of inter-community crime affecting residents of Asaba, Sapele, Oghara, Agbarho, and Ughelli.
Security agencies confirmed that the operations led to the recovery of assorted firearms, live cartridges, and two vehicles believed to have been used for criminal activities, including a Lexus SUV and a Toyota Sienna.
The recoveries were made during separate raids executed by tactical units acting on credible intelligence received from community vigilante networks and local informants.
Investigators described the breakthrough as another step in dismantling long-standing criminal networks suspected of carrying out kidnappings, highway robberies, and targeted assaults on unsuspecting residents.
Authorities noted that some members of the armed robbery and rape syndicate were neutralised during armed confrontations, following repeated reports from residents about late-night attacks and violent breaches along key routes.
The police further disclosed that the syndicate had been linked to a series of unsolved robbery and sexual violence cases stretching back several months.
Separately, a home invasion incident in Uvwiama New Layout, Agbarho, on November 18 resulted in the arrest of a 19-year-old suspect, Victor Peculiar.
The suspect was apprehended while in possession of a locally made double-barrelled firearm after residents raised distress calls over suspicious movements around the area.
Local authorities stated that the swift response was made possible by increased patrols introduced following recent criminal activities in the Agbarho axis.
Residents expressed concern that young people are increasingly being recruited into organised criminal groups, a trend that security experts warn may escalate unless strong preventive measures are implemented.
Delta State Police Command reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety of all communities, calling on residents to remain alert and immediately report suspicious persons or activities.
The command stressed that intelligence from residents remains the most effective tool in identifying criminal hideouts, foiling attacks, and preventing coordinated assaults across the state.
Background reports indicate that Delta State has witnessed a spike in organised criminal activity in recent years, largely driven by cult-related violence, illicit arms circulation, and expanding syndicates exploiting weak neighbourhood security structures.
Security analysts say the state’s urban centres—particularly Asaba, Warri, Ughelli, and surrounding communities—have become strategic targets for criminal networks seeking to control transit routes, nightlife districts, and fast-growing residential estates.
Authorities affirmed that further operations will continue in high-risk zones as part of a sustained effort to restore public confidence and dismantle the criminal ecosystems threatening social order in the state.
Residents have been urged to cooperate fully with security agencies as investigations continue into the identities, sponsors, and operational patterns of the apprehended suspects.