The Delta State Police Command apprehended Usman Bello, a suspected robber posing as a mentally unstable person, and seized a locally made, fabricated Beretta pistol from him.

The state’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement shared on X.com on Friday.

Edafe said Bello’s arrest took place on May 3, 2024, at about 8:00 a.m. when RRS Operatives, acting on credible information, stormed an uncompleted building along the Issele-Azagba Expressway and apprehended him.

He disclosed that Bello is currently in custody and that the investigation is ongoing.

The statement read, “On 3/05/2024 at about 8:00 a.m., RRS Operatives, while acting on credible information that some suspected robbers were sighted in an uncompleted building along Issele-Asagba Express Way.

“The operatives stormed the uncompleted building and arrested one Usman Bello ‘M’ age 40yrs, and one Locally Made Fabricated Beretta Pistol recovered from him.

“The suspect, who pretends to be a mentally unstable person is in custody and investigation is ongoing.”

In a similar development, Edafe also disclosed that the force also arrested three suspected armed robbers and recovered a Beretta pistol, a locally made cut-to-size gun, and other weapons in Sapele.

The arrested suspects are Blessing Atima, 23, the gang leader from Jesse Community in Ethiope West Local Government Area (LGA); Destiny Okpako, 19, from Oviri-Okpe Community in Okpe LGA; and Wisdom Akpohirowho, 20, from Jesse Community in Ethiope West LGA.

The trio has been linked to six armed robbery operations in Sapele.

Edafe said the arrests were made by a special squad deployed by the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, to checkmate the activities of kidnappers, and armed robbers in Ughelli, Warri, Sapele, and environs.

He noted that the squad arrested three suspected armed robbers and recovered their weapons, which they used to terrorise innocent residents in Sapele.

Recovered items include a Beretta pistol, a locally made cut-to-size gun, three cutlasses, phones, and ATM cards belonging to victims.

“Some of their victims have identified the suspects and their valuables recovered from them. Interrogation of the suspects revealed that they have so far taken part in six of the armed robbery operations in Sapele. The suspects are in custody, and the investigation is ongoing,” Edafe said.

Additionally, two suspects, Ameachi Michael and Ogochukwu Ogbode, were also arrested for shop and housebreaking in Asaba.

They allegedly targeted victims in Asaba and sold their loot in Port Harcourt. The arrests were made on April 6, 2024, at about 1300 hrs, following an intelligence report on the suspects’ activities.

“The Area commander immediately deployed undercover operatives who embarked on a discreet operation which eventually paid off when the duo of one Ameachi Micheal ‘m’ age 42 yrs of Wuje Street Port Harcourt and Ogochukwu Ogbode ‘m’ age 38 yrs of Aronomen Enugu were arrested along DLA road, Asaba.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that after breaking and looting the shops of their victims, they carried their loot to Port-Harcourt to sell.”

The policeman noted that the command is investigating the suspects’ involvement in these crimes and working to apprehend receivers of stolen items in Port Harcourt.