Suspected gunrunner on Police Wanted List arrested on way to supply arms

A 38-year-old suspected gunrunner, Bibi Asengbe, who has been on the Police Wanted List has been arrested by operatives of the Delta State Police Command.

He was on his way to supply arms to one of his customers, Marvin, at Jakpa Junction in Warri when he was arrested.

This was to have fetched Asengbe N250,000.

This was even as the Delta State Police Command declared that aside from the gunrunner, it also arrested five armed robbers and some cultists in the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, who confirmed the arrests, added that at least the Command recovered one fabricated Berretta pistol, one pump action gun, four locally made cut-to-size guns, and 13 live cartridges.

Edafe explained: “On the 22nd of May, at about 1:13 PM, the DPO in charge of  Orerokpe Division, a Superintendent of Police, Paul Obaware, received information from a member of Okwukoko Anti-cult Unit that 38 years old Bibi Asengbe, a notorious cultist and a gunrunner, who has been on the command’s wanted list was sighted on a motorcycle around Okwukoko Community.

“The Patrol team from Orerokpe was swiftly mobilised by the DPO alongside members of the local anti-cult, embarked on a technical intelligence led operation, and trailed the suspect to his hideout at Okwukoko where he was rounded up and arrested.

“When a search was conducted on him, a locally made English Berretta pistol was recovered from him. Investigation revealed that the suspect was on his way to supply the arm to one of his customers named Marvin at Jakpa Junction Warri at a cost of N250,000. The investigation is ongoing while a manhunt for the said Marvin and other accomplices is ongoing.”

The image manager also mentioned another achievement recorded by the command.

Edafe said that in the early hours of May 22, precisely at 3am, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Oghara Division, a Superintendent of Police, Suleiman Yahaya Doma, acting on intelligence received, led a combined team of policemen from the division and the State Investigation Bureau to a criminal hideout in Otefe community Oghara, Ethiope West LGA.

During the operation, 29-year-old Edafe Ajari and 24-year-old Wallis Louis, both of Otefe Community, Oghara, were arrested and one pump action gun, two double barrel cut-to-size, one battle axe and three live cartridges were recovered.

Also in Ughelli South LGA on May 20 at about 1:35pm, acting on a tip-off, the DPO Otu-Jeremi Division, a Chief Superintendent of Police, Pius Eredie, working on information, gathered that a syndicate that terrorises Usiefrun community, led patrol teams to the said community where the duo of Bright Akpomuje, 24, and Michael Ogheneruese, 24, were arrested and one locally made cut-to-size pistol, seven rounds of live cartridges were recovered.

Edafe added: “In Isoko North LGA, on the 18th of May, at about 9:30 PM, acting on a tip-off that some secret cult members were holding a meeting at their hideout in Owhelogbo Community Isoko North LGA, police operatives attached to Otor-Owhe division, stormed their hideout, and cordoned the area.

“The suspected cultists on noticing the presence of the policemen, took to their heels but were given pursued. During the chase, one Precious Moses, 30, of Owhelogbo was arrested and a locally made cut-to-size single barrel gun and three live cartridges were recovered from him.

“Investigation revealed that the suspect is a member of Viking Confraternity and part of the syndicate terrorizing the said community. Manhunt for the other fleeing members of the gang is ongoing.”