Ademola Busayo 
Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested five suspected armed robbers and recovered stolen church musical instruments, three motorcycles and guns in the Warri area of the state.
The leader of the suspect, 45-year-old Lawrence Onowenakpo was arrested on September 19, in a collabora- tive operation involving operatives of Orerokpe Division and members of the Civilian AntiCult group, Osubi, which led to the interception of two Toyota Sienna vehicles conveying musical equipment under suspicious circumstances along Warri/Sapele Road.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Bright Edafe, in a statement yesterday said the occupants of the vehi- cle fled on sighting the police, but one suspect was arrested. A search of the vehicles led to the recovery of three locally made single-barrel long guns and one live cartridge.
During preliminary interrogation, another suspect identified as Ajeh Zephaniah (aka Fanta), who had previously been arrested and arraigned for armed robbery before being granted bail on health grounds, and identified as the gang leader was arrested.
Edafe said further investigation led the joint team to storm a scavenger camp in Warri suspected to be the syndicates’ operational base, where three motorcycles, 21 air-conditioning units, 13 washing machines, 29 motorcycle/tricycle engines, musical equipment, television sets, a generator, laptop and other suspected stolen items were recovered.
Police however said investigation linked the gang to recent armed robberies within the Kwale and Warri arrears, while efforts are ongoing to ar- rest Zephaniah and other fleeing members of the gang.
In a similar development, operatives of Agbor Division, acting on credible intelligence, arrested one Agbaja Promise 20, Emmanuel Ovieh 25 and Odiri Dama 25, all from Benin City, Edo State, while they allegedly attempted to dispose a stolen Hijet mini bus with registration number BEN-485-XH for N300,000 without producing its documents. The vehicle was recovered and handed over to the owner who was subsequently identified and con- tacted. Investigation is ongoing.
About the Author
Emmanuel Femi Adedayo 
Ayo Marvel 
