Recovered exhibits include one FNC rifle loaded with a round of live ammunition and a pump-action shotgun with 32 live cartridges, adding that all items have been secured as evidence, while a manhunt has been launched to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
While the Command hailed the operation as a success, the escape of the suspects has again raised questions about the persistence of armed criminal gangs and the difficulty of effecting arrests, even during intelligence-led operations.
Residents of the area, who have endured repeated security scares, continue to call for sustained patrols and follow-up actions to prevent the regrouping of fleeing suspects.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Aina Adesola, commended the operatives for their bravery and coordination, insisting that the Command remains determined to clamp down on criminal networks across the state.
He warned that Delta State would remain “hostile terrain” for kidnappers, armed robbers, and other violent offenders.
