The Delta State Police Command has arrested 16 suspects in separate operations across the state, recovering firearms, ammunition, illicit drugs and a stolen Toyota Camry.
The command, in a statement issued on Thursday by its Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, said eight suspected cultists were arrested during a raid on a proposed cult gathering at Aragba-Orogun.
The suspects were identified as Godspower Achubue, 27; Ziden Edem, 27; Kingsley Aniefem, 36; Omita John, 22; Onumu Happy, 22; Kenneth Ukpurakpo, 22; Juliet Festus, 26; and Oghenegueke Okuanah, 22.
According to the police, a subsequent search of one of the suspects’ residences led to the recovery of a pump-action gun and a live cartridge.
In another operation, police arrested a 30-year-old man, Collins Dunkun, over an alleged extortion attempt at a construction site in Okpanam.
The police said the suspects allegedly invaded the site, stopped workers, seized their tools and demanded N700,000 before allowing construction activities to resume.
Although six other suspects reportedly escaped, operatives arrested Dunkun and recovered a locally made single-barrel pistol and a cartridge from him.
The command also reported the arrest of five suspected drug dealers at an uncompleted building in King Zanga, Ugbuegwai Community, Warri.
The suspects—Rabi’u Salihu, 26; Salisu Suleiman, 23; Rabilu Ali, 24; Alhassan Mohd Mansur, 28; and Aliyu Abubakar, 25—were arrested following intelligence on alleged illicit drug activities at the location.
Police said quantities of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, Codeine, Colorado, Rizla, SK and Canadian Loud were recovered during the operation.
Meanwhile, two suspects were arrested and a stolen Toyota Camry recovered in Ekpan.
The vehicle, a brown Toyota Camry Pencil Light with registration number BEN-572BT, was reportedly stolen in Benin City on September 7, 2026.
Following intelligence-led investigation, operatives of the Ekpan Division traced the vehicle to the New Era area of Jakpa Road, where they laid an ambush and arrested Destiny Suleman, 41, and Samuel Ejiro, 21.
The police said all the suspects remain in custody while investigations into the various cases continue.
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel E. Erale, warned that cultism, illegal possession of firearms, extortion, illicit drug activities and other criminal acts would not be tolerated in the state.
He assured residents that the command would sustain proactive policing measures aimed at preventing crime, dismantling criminal networks and ensuring that offenders are brought to justice.