Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Delta State Police Command has released a startling tally of its successes in the fight against violent crime, revealing that between February and April 2026 alone, operatives recovered an arsenal of nine AK‑47 rifles, eleven Beretta pistols, twenty‑one cut‑to‑size guns, four pump‑action shotguns, and 188 rounds of live ammunition. In the same three‑month window, the Command rescued nine kidnap victims and recovered four suspected stolen vehicles. The data, made public on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, by the Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, offers a rare quantitative glimpse into the intensity of policing in a state that has become a hotspot for kidnapping, cultism, and armed robbery.
Edafe, in a statement issued to journalists in Asaba, said the recoveries were the result of sustained intelligence‑led operations across the state’s twenty‑five local government areas, particularly in high‑risk corridors such as the East‑West Road, the Ughelli‑Patani axis, and the riverine communities of Warri South West and Burutu. “These achievements are not accidental. They are the outcome of a well‑coordinated strategy that combines community intelligence, digital surveillance, and aggressive patrols,” Edafe said. The police spokesperson singled out the Anti‑Kidnapping Squad and the Safer Highway Patrol for special commendation, noting that officers had been operating under increased pressure to bring down the kidnapping networks that have turned Delta into a transit point for ransom‑driven abductions.
The weapons haul is particularly significant because of the type of firearms recovered. AK‑47 rifles and Beretta pistols are not typically manufactured in local workshops; their presence in the state points to well‑funded criminal networks with access to cross‑border arms trafficking routes. Cut‑to‑size guns, on the other hand, are locally fabricated and are often the weapon of choice for cult groups engaged in turf wars. The recovery of twenty‑one such guns suggests that the police have been targeting not only high‑end kidnapping syndicates but also the lower‑level cult cells that terrorise neighbourhoods with machetes and homemade firearms.
The nine rescued kidnap victims represent a substantial success in a state where abductions have become increasingly brazen. In March 2026, armed men abducted a traditional ruler along the Ughelli‑Patani road, holding him for eight days before a ransom was paid. In February, a Catholic priest was seized from his rectory in Oleh and released after a N10 million payment. The police have not disclosed the identities of the nine victims rescued between February and April, but Edafe confirmed that they were all reunited with their families and that medical and psychological support was provided. “Every rescue is a life saved, a family restored. We will not relent,” he said.
The four suspected stolen vehicles recovered during the period include two Toyota Corollas, a Honda Accord, and a Toyota Highlander. The police are working to trace the original owners, many of whom may have been victims of carjacking or armed robbery. Vehicle theft has become a lucrative enterprise in Delta, with stolen cars often driven across state lines to markets in Onitsha, Port Harcourt, or Benin City. The recovery of these vehicles suggests that the police are paying closer attention to the logistics that support kidnapping and armed robbery.
The announcement of the recovery figures comes just days after Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori praised the police for their improved performance under Commissioner of Police Wale Abass, who assumed office in December 2025. The governor had pledged to equip the Command with additional patrol vehicles and communication gadgets, a promise that appears to be bearing fruit. However, civil society groups in the state have urged caution, noting that while weapon recoveries and victim rescues are important metrics, the overall conviction rate remains low. “Seizing guns is one thing. Ensuring that the gunmen face trial and go to prison is another,” said a Warri‑based human rights activist who asked not to be named.
The police themselves have acknowledged the challenge of prosecution. In his statement, Edafe noted that many victims are reluctant to testify in court for fear of reprisal, and that lack of witness cooperation often leads to suspects being released on bail or charges being dropped. The Command is now working with the Ministry of Justice to establish a witness protection programme targeted at kidnapping cases. The police have also intensified community engagement, holding town hall meetings in Ughelli, Agbor, and Sapele to encourage residents to report suspicious movements without fear.
The recovery of 188 rounds of ammunition alongside the firearms is also notable. Ammunition is often the limiting factor for criminal groups, and the seizure of nearly two hundred rounds disrupts their ability to carry out sustained attacks. Forensic analysis of the recovered ammunition is underway to determine whether it originated from state armouries or was smuggled across the border. In the past, the police have traced ammunition recovered in Delta to leakages from military and police stores, leading to internal disciplinary actions.
As the dry season gives way to heavier rains, security experts have warned that kidnapping gangs may shift their tactics, moving operations from waterways to highways and villages. The Delta Police Command has responded by redeploying the Safer Highway Patrol unit to cover night travel along the Asaba‑Benin expressway, a corridor that has seen a spike in abductions. The Command has also launched a dedicated phone line for emergency reports, which has already received over 1,200 calls since its activation in March.
The three‑month tally released on Wednesday is not a final victory, but it is a signal. For the families of the nine rescued victims, it is everything. For the police, it is proof that intelligence, persistence, and courage can push back against criminal networks that have long operated with impunity. As Commissioner Abass told his officers at a parade earlier this week, “Every kidnapped victim we bring back alive is a statement that the criminals do not own the night.” The recovered weapons have been sent to the police armoury for forensic analysis, and the nine rescued victims are now receiving follow‑up counseling. The search for the next hostage, and the next cache of illegal weapons, continues.
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