Police Arrest 627 Murder, Kidnap Suspects.

The Delta State Police Command says it has arrested 627 suspects connected to murder, kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminal activities between January 2025 and now.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Olufemi Abaniwonda, made this known in Asaba while presenting the command’s operational scorecard for the year. He also disclosed that N36 million collected as ransom by kidnappers was recovered during various operations.

Abaniwonda explained that the arrests cut across different crime categories, including 140 suspected armed robbers, 113 suspected kidnappers, 125 murder suspects, 187 suspected cultists and 62 suspects linked to rape and defilement cases.

He further revealed that police operatives rescued 18 kidnap victims, recovered 28 stolen vehicles and seized 144 arms during the period under review.

According to the police commissioner, the achievements were made possible through proactive, intelligence-driven and community-oriented policing strategies. He said the command worked closely with other security agencies and community partners such as vigilante groups, anti-cult volunteers, police community relations committees, civil society organisations and traditional rulers to sustain pressure on criminal networks across the state.

Speaking on a notable breakthrough, Abaniwonda recounted the arrest of a suspect in connection with the killing of retired Justice Ifeoma Okogwu, who was murdered at her residence on November 24, 2025. He said detectives from the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Asaba, acted on credible intelligence and arrested a 25-year-old security guard attached to the victim’s home, Godwin Mngumi, on December 6, 2025.

The suspect was reportedly found with one of the late justice’s mobile phones. During questioning, he allegedly confessed to the crime and admitted that he invited an accomplice, identified as 21-year-old Nnaji Obalum, to take part in the attack.

Abaniwonda stated that the suspects confessed that on November 23, 2025, at about 9:30 p.m., they, along with another accomplice who is still on the run, gained access to the house, restrained the victim and killed her.

He added that the suspects went on to steal valuables including two mobile phones and a wristwatch, which were later sold cheaply. One of the stolen phones has since been recovered at Ogbogonogo Market in Asaba, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect.