The Delta State Police Command has arrested two suspected gun runners and recovered a cache of firearms and ammunition.

The arrests were made during stop-and-search operations along the Warri/Benin Road and Asaba/Benin Expressway on separate dates.

On 3rd March, operatives intercepted a Toyota Camry driven by one Peter James, 55, from Akwa Ibom State.

Upon searching the vehicle, they discovered three AK-47 rifles, 2,080 rounds of 7.62mm AK-47 ammunition, and 1,040 rounds of 5.1mm ammunition.

State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, who confirmed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri on Monday, said that the suspect was arrested near Western Delta University, Oghara, after operatives intercepted a blue Toyota Camry with registration number PHC 257 NT.

Police arrest 2 suspected gun runners in Delta, recover arms
Police arrest 2 suspected gun runners in Delta, recover arms
“The driver was asked to open the trunk of the vehicle, during which it was observed that the trunk of the said Camry, popularly known as ‘big daddy,’ was unusually small. This aroused the suspicion of the men who were convinced that the vehicle had been modified for malicious purpose.

“The policemen then proceeded and removed the seat of the vehicle, only to discover three (3) AK-47 rifles, Two Thousand and Eighty (2,080) rounds of 7.62 mm AK-47 ammunition, one thousand and forty (1,040) rounds of 51mm ammunition loaded in four boxes.

“The exhibit has been recovered, the suspect is in custody, and investigation is ongoing,” he added.
In a separate operation on 6th March, police arrested Yahuza Magaji, 69, and Abba Sani, 17, from Kaduna State, and recovered seven pump-action guns and 1,600 rounds of live cartridges.

Edafe said that operatives attached to Dragon Patrol Team 02 arrested the suspects while on stop-and-search duty along the Asaba/Benin Expressway by the National Open University, Onicha-Ugbo.

He said that police had intercepted a navy blue Sharon space bus with registration number DKA 408 LM, driven by one Yahuza Magaji, in the company of one Abba Sani, both of Lere LGA in Kaduna State.

“They disguised as traders transporting palm oil and garri, but the police, who insisted on a thorough search of the vehicle, recovered seven (7) pump action guns, five (5) cartons containing one thousand six hundred (1,600) rounds of live cartridges concealed under the back seat of the vehicle.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that suspects bought the arms from Onitsha and were transporting them to Kaduna State. The suspects are in custody, and investigation is ongoing,” he added.

Commenting on the development, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, expressed delight that the marching orders he gave to all tactical commanders, area commanders, and DPOs to up their game were yielding results.

“We are determined to flush out all criminal elements in the state,” said CP Abaniwonda.

“I commend the effort and determination of our men for going the extra mile to detect the hidden firearms,” he said.

The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued a warrant for the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), to appear before it.

The Martins Amaewhule-led Assembly issued the arrest warrant on Monday during plenary, after the expiration of its 72-hour ultimatum for the electoral chief to appear before the House.

Enebeli had fixed August 9, 2025, to conduct a fresh Local Government (LG) poll in the state following a Supreme Court verdict that annulled the October 5, 2024 local government poll conducted in the state.

The Amaewhule-led Assembly had vowed to probe the conduct of Enebeli regarding the conduct of the annulled LG poll last year.

Over the weekend, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, invited members of the Assembly to a dialogue on the implementation the Supreme Court’s verdict.

The Supreme Court had also barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation and other agencies from releasing funds to the government of Rivers State until it purges itself of what the court described as flagrant disobedience to court orders.

In the judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye, the five-man panel of the court had unanimously dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Fubara challenging the validity of the House of Assembly presided over by Amaewhule as the Speaker.

In dismissing Fubara’s appeal, the court ordered Amaewhule to resume sitting immediately with other elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Wants More Local Refineries Like Dangote, Others in Nigeria

The Conscience of the Nation, a socio-economic pressure group, has commended President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for their efforts and policies resulting in reduction in fuel prices.

According to Comrade Gideon Unazi, the group’s head, this development has brought relief to Nigerians, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.

Unazi said with the price reduction, Nigerians can now afford to transport food, goods, and services at a lower cost.

This slash, he said, has also led to a decrease in the cost of food and other essential commodities, making it easier for Nigerians to observe the holy month of Ramadan without financial burden.

Unazi further said NUPRC’s strategic and transparent approach and reforms at the upstream level have ultimately led to the reduction in fuel prices.

He added that the Commission had shown a commitment to the willing-seller, willing-buyer option, which aligns with international best practices and supports the upstream sector’s optimal functioning without resorting to price-fixing.

Unazi further said the Commission has demonstrated its commitment to regulating the industry, fostering growth, and avoiding arbitrary actions that could hinder investments.

He added: “In January, the NUPRC outlined a five-point agenda aimed at increasing oil production in 2025.

“Key initiatives include boosting production by one million barrels, enhancing transparency and accuracy in hydrocarbon measurement, digitalizing upstream regulatory activities, optimizing unit costs per barrel, and conducting licensing bid rounds to revitalize non-performing assets.

‘The Commission has also developed a template to identify the needs of participants within the value chain, fostering collaboration and operational optimization.

“Furthermore, significant regulatory actions have been put in place to enforce compliance with the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation (DCSO), ensuring a consistent supply of crude oil to domestic refiners.”

The group also urged the government to continue to support the establishment of more local refineries, which will not only reduce our reliance on imported fuel but also create jobs and stimulate economic growth.

Unazi stated: “The importance of having more local refineries like Dangote cannot be overstated. With the Dangote Refinery, Nigeria is poised to emerge as one of the largest crude oil refining hub by 2025.

“The refinery’s capacity to produce Euro-V quality gasoline and diesel, in addition to jet fuel and polypropylene, is expected to eliminate Nigeria’s petroleum import requirement, thereby bolstering the country’s current-account position and foreign-exchange reserves.

“The establishment of more local refineries will not only reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel but also create jobs and stimulate economic growth.”