The Delta State Police Command says it has arrested four suspected members of a gun-running syndicate linked to the illegal circulation of firearms across Delta, Bayelsa and Imo States, following the recovery of a Beretta pistol in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area.
Commissioner of Police Yemi Oyeniyi disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the arrests followed intelligence-led investigations into the unlawful possession and movement of firearms recovered on May 1, 2026, in Effurun.
The suspects, identified as Emmanuel Chukwuemeka, Clifford Boleyelefa, Amadi Princewill and Amadi Felix Chibuike, were reportedly arrested in separate operations across Bayelsa and Imo States after investigators tracked the weapon’s movement and communication trail linked to the transaction.
Police said the investigation began after Chukwuemeka was arrested in Bayelsa State on May 4, 2026, alongside an associate whose phone allegedly played a role in coordinating the deal. During interrogation, he reportedly confessed to purchasing the firearm for ₦290,000 from Princewill before selling it to a yet-to-be-identified buyer known as “Desmond,” who remains at large.
According to the Command, further investigation led operatives to Princewill, who was arrested in Imo State on May 15, 2026. He allegedly admitted purchasing the weapon for ₦200,000 from Chibuike, who was subsequently arrested in Owerri on May 16, 2026.
The police said all the suspects are believed to be members of a confraternity-linked network, with efforts ongoing to arrest other fleeing members, including the suspected buyer identified as Desmond. The Command added that the recovered firearm was traced to a wider chain of illegal circulation linked to a deceased individual, further deepening the investigation.
One of the suspects, Chukwuemeka, however, denied full knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the case, saying he only knew Desmond as a frequent visitor to his neighbourhood. He also admitted being a member of the Neo Black Movement but insisted he had not engaged in criminal activity since joining.
“I earn a living through my personal business activities,” he was quoted as saying.
The police said investigations are ongoing and all suspects will be charged to court upon completion of inquiries, adding that efforts are continuing to dismantle criminal networks involved in illegal arms trafficking across the state.
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