67 robbery suspects, kidnappers, others arrested in Delta —Police

The Delta State Police Command has disclosed that between September 28 and October 29, it has arrested 67 suspects in the state.

Commissioner of Police, Mr Zanna Ibrahim, made the disclosure at the command’s monthly press briefing at the headquarters on Saturday, in Asaba.

The police said the suspects were arrested over offences, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, murder and cyber crime, among others at various parts of the oil-rich state.

According to him, there were 12 armed robbery cases, seven kidnap cases, six cult cases and two cult-murder related cases, totalling 21.

Zanna noted that several arms and ammunition were also recovered from the hoodlums.

Rolling out the number,  he said nine locally-made guns, four locally-made pistols, four pump action guns, one AK-47 rifle, one G3 rifle, eight live cartridges, two expended cartridges, 73 rounds of live ammunition, as well as two kidnapped victims and five vehicles were recovered from the suspects.

He, therefore, decried the proliferation of arms and light weapons in the hands of hoodlums in the state, warning those with such weapons to surrender them to the police for peace to reign.

“This is another issue that has given the command sleepless nights. Arms and ammunition are obviously in the hands of so many undesirable elements ready to be utilised for selfish ends – robbery, community crisis, leadership crisis, cultism, among others.

“The command is not relenting in mopping up of such arms from these miscreants.

“It is, hereby, advised that those who hold unlicensed arms to turn them voluntarily to the nearest police stations in the interest of the peaceful co-existence and economic development in Delta State.

“Similarly, the sanctity of human lives must be paramount in our minds, because no one has the right to take human lives for whatever reason,” the police boss pontificated.

Zanna also expressed worries over the menace of herdsmen across the state, accusing them of breaching peace processes through the continuous destruction of farmlands, intimidation, threats and sometimes outright killing.

He said the Delta State Police Command, which was much aware of the constitutional right to freedom of movement across Nigeria, as sensibilities and cultural values of host communities must be respected.

He warned that the command would deal decisively with anyone, no matter how highly placed, who attempt to scuttle the relative peace in the state.