Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have re-arrested eight suspects who escaped from lawful custody at a police facility in the Ughelli area of the state, while three others remain at large, according to the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu. The re-arrest, which was announced on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, followed a coordinated, intelligence-led tracking operation by tactical teams dispatched to apprehend the fleeing fugitives. The suspects were among a total of 11 who escaped from the unnamed facility, and the case is now undergoing thorough investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
Iniedu, who announced the breakthrough as part of the 24-hour operational successes of the Nigeria Police Force across the country, said the recapture followed concerted intelligence-led tracking and tactical manoeuvres launched by police operatives to track down the fleeing fugitives. "Following the escape of 11 suspects from lawful custody at a police facility in Ughelli, concerted police efforts led to the re-arrest of eight suspects. Status: SCID Asaba Investigating," the statement partly read. The Force Public Relations Officer noted that the re-arrest was achieved following intelligence-led efforts by the security operatives, adding that the case is undergoing investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Asaba. The investigation is expected to uncover the circumstances surrounding the escape and determine whether any lapses or complicity facilitated the incident.
The re-arrest in Delta State formed part of a series of nationwide anti-crime achievements recorded by police tactical units across multiple states over the preceding 24 to 48 hours. In Benue State, police teams conducting search and rescue missions along the Otukpo–Adoka Road engaged a gang of bandits in a gun duel inside the Amla Icho Forest, Otukpo Local Government Area, neutralising one suspect and recovering an AK-47 rifle bearing breech number 7969 alongside three rounds of live ammunition. In Oyo State, tactical teams arrested a suspected arms fabricator at his hideout in Ajo Village, Sanyo area of Ibadan, recovering five locally fabricated single-barrel guns and live cartridges. A separate raid at Olupeju area, Kudeti, Ibadan, led to the arrest of an armed robbery suspect found with a Beretta pistol and a locally made gun.
In Kogi State, sustained pressure by security forces forced the release of 12 abducted individuals at Abocho, Dekina Local Government Area, who were debriefed at the Divisional Police Headquarters and subsequently reunited with their families. In the Federal Capital Territory, police officers on disguised patrol along Constitution Avenue apprehended three suspected vandals caught destroying public infrastructure, while FCT operatives also intervened at Karsana District to rescue a motorist from a mob attack following a traffic accident. In Niger State, operatives recovered an AK-47 rifle, two magazines, 19 rounds of live ammunition, and 55 rounds of RPG live ammunition along criminal routes in Crusher Genu Village, Rijau Local Government Area. In Anambra State, the Command arrested a 49-year-old male suspect in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area, with a pump-action gun and 50 live cartridges.
Also in Delta State, the Command's operatives arrested a suspect caught illegally dumping oil-contaminated sludge along the Ughelli/Iyede Expressway and impounded the truck involved. In Ogun State, surveillance teams arrested three suspects over the theft of an unregistered motorcycle from a farm. Marine police teams in Bayelsa State responded to a boat collision in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, recovering a capsized canoe and detaining the boat captain and two crew members for questioning.
The re-arrest of the eight escapees in Ughelli has been hailed as a significant victory for the Delta State Police Command, demonstrating the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and the commitment of security operatives to ensuring that fugitives do not evade justice. However, the fact that three suspects remain at large has underscored the need for sustained efforts to track down the remaining escapees and prevent future incidents of mass escape from police facilities. The investigation at SCID Asaba is expected to provide answers on how the suspects managed to escape and what measures can be implemented to prevent a recurrence.
CSP Iniedu assured that the State Criminal Investigation Department in Asaba has commenced a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the escape and subsequent re-arrest. The Force Public Relations Officer also reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to sustaining intelligence-led operations and ensuring that all persons who break the law are brought to justice. As the manhunt for the remaining three suspects continues, residents of Ughelli and the wider Delta State can take some comfort in the knowledge that the police are working tirelessly to restore order and ensure the safety of the community. The message from the police is clear: no matter how far they run, the long arm of the law will eventually catch up with those who attempt to evade justice.
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