Delta Police: Arrest Joel Iwomi, Chukwuka Nzete for Guns

• Delta State Police Command arrested Joel Iwomi and Chukwuka Nzete in two separate intelligence-led operations.
• Authorities recovered two pump-action guns, 18 live cartridges, four daggers, a battle axe, and suspected charms.
• Joel Iwomi, 36, was apprehended in Obiaruku on September 12, 2026, after resisting officers during a search that yielded a firearm and ammunition.
• Chukwuka Nzete, known as "Ododo," was arrested on September 9, 2026, in Isupe Community, suspected of illegal firearms dealing and operating a shrine for criminal fortification.
• The Commissioner of Police, Samuel Erale, reaffirmed the command's dedication to preventing access to illicit firearms and urged public cooperation with confidential information.

The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel Erale, reiterated the command's firm commitment to preventing criminal elements from acquiring illicit firearms and other weapons that pose a threat to public safety.

The Delta State Police Command recently conducted two distinct intelligence-led operations, leading to the apprehension of two suspects and the recovery of a significant cache of weapons and other dangerous items. These successful interventions, carried out by specialized units within the command, underscore ongoing efforts to curb violent crime and illegal arms proliferation across the state.

The operations were executed by operatives from the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) and the Command Anti-Cult Unit (CACU) in separate locations: Obiaruku and the Isupe Community, both situated within the Ndokwa West Local Government Area. The command officially disclosed details of these arrests and seizures in a statement released on Sunday by its Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, from Asaba. Among the items seized were two pump-action guns, eighteen live cartridges, four daggers, a battle axe, and various other materials suspected to be linked to criminal activities.

One of the key arrests involved 36-year-old Joel Iwomi, a resident of Umuebu, Obiaruku. On September 12, 2026, VCRU operatives, acting on credible intelligence regarding the possession of firearms and ammunition, stormed his residence. Mr. Iwomi reportedly resisted the officers' initial attempts to gain entry, but they successfully secured access to the premises. A subsequent search led to the discovery of one pump-action gun and eighteen live cartridges, resulting in his immediate arrest and detention. The investigation into his activities remains active.

In a separate operation conducted on September 9, 2026, the CACU apprehended Chukwuka Nzete, also known by his alias "Ododo," in the Isupe Community of Ndokwa West Local Government Area. Mr. Nzete is suspected of being involved in the illicit sale and proliferation of firearms. Furthermore, authorities allege that he operated a shrine where suspected criminal elements were fortified. A search of his residence uncovered another pump-action gun, four dagger knives, a battle axe, and pots containing substances believed to be charms. He has been taken into custody, and investigations are ongoing to ascertain the full scope of his operations and any potential connections to other criminal networks.

These two operations collectively resulted in the recovery of two pump-action guns, along with associated ammunition, daggers, a battle axe, and other items reportedly linked to violent or criminal endeavors. The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel Erale, reiterated the command's firm commitment to preventing criminal elements from acquiring illicit firearms and other weapons that pose a threat to public safety.

CP Erale also issued a call to residents, urging them to maintain vigilance and promptly provide credible information regarding suspicious individuals, illegal firearms, and any criminal activities within their communities. He assured the public that all actionable information provided to the police would be handled with the utmost confidentiality, reinforcing the importance of community cooperation in maintaining law and order. Investigations into both cases are actively progressing to uncover further details and potential wider implications.

Source: Based on reports from the Delta State Police Command.